5.4 million US home owners now behind on their mortgages

12% of home owners with any mortgage in the US are now one month or more behind on their mortgage – the highest percentage ever. This compares to 8% just on a year ago. The group most highly affected are people with college degrees or technical training who could afford to by a house – but used a prime fixed rate mortgages – and are now losing their jobs. 48% of the ‘subprime’ mortgage home owners are behind on their payments