The banks that irresponsibly loaned or people who took the mortgages knowing they couldn't afford them? Obviously there are also people who fell on hard times, I'm not counting them....
Ultimately the people are to blame. The banks may have offered loans that the people couldn't afford, but the people didn't have to accept those loans!
it's a nightmare isnt it! not just mortgage company's but what about all these credit card companies etc that give people these big credit limits when they damn well know that they won't be able to repay them!!!!!!!