Here is a thought.
under bankruptcy law as it stands today. On investment real estate property you can strip a mortgage down to the value of the current value of the real estate where the asset has decreased in value. HOWEVER, on primary residence you can not do that for a first mortgage regardless of how much the value of the property has decreased.
The THEORY is that people will overpay to keep their homes over thier heads. The reality is the 45% decrease in value of homes has made it reasonable to abandon a current primary residence in favor of an identical less expensive primary residence. The prices of homes are still being artificially inflated by shadow inventory being witheld by the banks and obmanomics.
My real estate taxes went up this year, I doubt that my home has increased in value. Small amount (about $30 per year) but still an increase.