<prompt> Human: My wife and I bought our first home nearly 10 years ago for 155k, during the height of the bubble. The house prices climbed quickly. We refinanced early to get 20k in equity for medical expenses. Then the bubble burst. The house is now basically worthless. We finally have the principle down to about 150k. The whole neighborhood has plummeted in value. Similar homes in the area are going for 90k. Its a corner lot, a bit more land, and pretty-well maintained. But still, best case scenario is 100k. I dont see how I can afford a 50k hit.The mortgage itself is in good shape. 4.5 APR for a 30-year fixed FHA. I dont qualify for short sale as I dont have a financial hardship. I really dont want to walk away from it and destroy my credit. I just really need to unload this home, get it off my back.I am currently renting it out, and I was really lucky to get someone willing to pay most of the mortgage payment Im losing about 100 a month. I just dont want to count on someone else to cover this expense, you know? If they left, I have no idea how long it would be before I got another set of renters, and that would just cause a huge financial strain. So yeah, I want out ASAP.Just looking for general advice. If I sell it for less than the mortgage, do I owe the balance all at once, or continue making payments? Is walking away from a mortgage about the worst thing I can do? Does anyone have 50k they just want to give me? Is there some hidden, government program out there to help?  <response>: That is a common complaint, but the truth is that default options are designed for people experiencing hardship, not trying to game the system. Most types of modification are a ton of paperwork and designed to bring you current, and you would still be liable for the balance on a short sale sale. Further, you took a cash out mortgage. It is really easy for lenders to look at your situation and see why you are defaulting. Dont bemoan your good circumstances; you are probably better off sitting on the market and waiting. 