Divorce, death, job loss and medical expenses are commonly cited as reasons for losing a home. But many of today's record number of foreclosures happen to happy, healthy, gainfully employed (and living) people blindsided by the changing housing market.

You can avoid foreclosure by steering clear of our Top 9 Reasons why happy, healthy, gainfully employed (and living) homeowners foreclose...

The Top 9 Reasons Homeowners Foreclose

1. They buy more home than they can afford. When the loan officer says, "You're approved for half a million dollars!" They say, "Great, we'll take it," without finding what they can actually afford. See what kind of mortgage your budget allows.

2. They liquidate all of their equity. Those home equity loan ads which sport boats, cars and all kinds of bling sure are tempting, but if you pull all the cash out of your house, and home prices drop, then you could end up owing more than your house is worth. Find the value of your home with a MyREALTY.com property report!

3. They get a bad Loan-to-Value ratio. The ideal parameters for a home mortgage are as follows: 80% bank loan to 20% money down (minimum). That's an 80/20 LTV. Some people get into a 90/10 or 95/5 ratio, or worse yet, 100/0. That means the home is 100% bank-owned and the homeowner has absolutely no wiggle-room. Pay as much money toward your down payment as possible. If you don't, you're susceptible to factors beyond your control; like your neighbor's foreclosure bringing down your property value. This could mean you owe more than the home is worth. Learn more with this FREE MyREALTY.com Buyers Guide.

4. They don't read the fine print. Those 3% interest rates sure sound nice, but check and see what happens in six months or a year. All kinds of people are discovering the dark side of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). Learn the pitfalls and plusses of different loans with MyREALTY Mortgage.

5. They buy on the hype. Just because everyone says you should own a home doesn't mean you should stop renting. That tax write-off is often offset by maintenance expenses. See the advantages and disadvantages of owning a home in the FREE MyREALTY.com Buyers Guide.

6. They buy a good home in a bad neighborhood. Sure, you got a great deal, but that car parked on your neighbor's lawn is hurting everybody's value. The old adage is that you can buy a bad house in a good neighborhood, but never the other way around. Search the Global Listing Service (GLS) for the right home in the right neighborhood.

7. They don't shop around for right agent/lender. It's nice that your friend's nephew is a part time real estate agent and will take time from snowboarding to help, but does he know the market? In real estate knowledge is power! Find an experienced real estate agent or broker with MyREALTY.com.

8. They get giddy. Buying a home is exciting, but put on your poker face and do your due diligence before locking into the first place you see. This means getting the homeowner to repair everything that needs fixing, and avoiding any property that requires too much work. Yes, it's exciting that it's in a historic part of town. The termites like it, too. Also, remember, if it's a buyers market then there's no better time to ask for a home warranty to cover the furnace and other appliances. Know what to look for in a home with the FREE Buyers Checklist.

9. They don't educate themselves. Remember, Knowledge is power! Find out everything you need to know about Buying Real Estate with the Free Buyers Guide available at MyREALTY.com.

Buying and owning a home isn’t all that difficult, but the wrong loan and/or the wrong property can quickly become a fatal financial disaster. MyREALTY.com provides the tools and resources to help you purchase your home. If you’re trying to sell in this slow housing market, MyREALTY.com offers you more FREE exposure and the tools to get your property sold for the money you want – and need.

MyREALTY.com – it’s Everything Real Estate, Simple.