Did you know that June is National Homeownership Month? You can read the proclamation by President Bush and see what you think. The theme this year is Back to Basics.

I’m wondering how much the Back to Basics program really helped people. Over at HUD there are so many resources for those who want to achieve homeownership and for those homeowners who desperately need help…but how many people were helped? At the HUD website, they state over 220,000 homeowners have refinanced since last September. Great, but there are so many more homeowners out there…and for how many is that refi a “quick fix?”

It’s not pretty here in Phoenix. There are plenty of stories of people who literally walk away from their homes. I myself have had former real estate clients contact me to talk about their options. I get calls from friends asking about their relatives who are in a tough spot. And it typically boils down to the fact that the homeowner needs to either decrease their expenditures or increase their income. Or perhaps a little of both.

There are definitely some circumstances where a foreclosure or a short sale is the only option. But, it’s not necessary in a lot of situations and it’s sad that some people would rather foreclose than research every alternative. Sorry, I’m just a proponent of tough love.