The "danger years" for homeowners

CNN Money reports:

A recent report from the National Association of Realtors found that the median new home buyer put down just 2 percent in 2005. Forty-three percent put down no money at all. And according to SMR Research, some 25 percent of loans were interest-only, do nothing to reduce the debt on the house.

"Lenders used to offer interest-only loans to only the best credit-quality prospects. That's no longer true," said Stuart Feldstein, founder of SMR Research.

Adjustable rate loans accounted for nearly half, by dollar volume, of loans issued in 2004 and 2005. Because interest rates have risen and are expected to increase further, those loans will adjust upward and monthly payments will be higher.

With a $200,000 loan adjusting upward from 4 percent to 6 percent, the monthly bill would increase to about $1,200 from $955.

Who would have thought being long or short soybean futures contracts,where you are market to the market every trading day and put at least 3% down,would be more conservative than homeownership?