This morning I was reading in the NY Times about more and more people walking away fom their mortgages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/business/03walk.html?em

I've considered taking this action myself on a mortgage that far exceeds the market value of the property. I feel no moral obligation to continue paying, but for the time being, as long as I can keep this property rented, the monthly loss is minimal.

It's the moral dilemma that interests me. Some people will feel obligated to continue paying on their mortgage because they see it as a promise (honor thy commitments). Others look at it like an investment gone wrong (... cut your losses and bail out).