Before you throw up your hands and walk away, here are some things to consider if you are underwater — owing more on your place than it is worth.

First, figure out if you’ll ever break even. If you love your neighborhood and the house is worth 10% less than you paid for it, remaining patient is likely to pay off.

But be warned that it could be decades before some housing prices are back to their heyday levels.

Full story is available on Freep.com