[fanboy123]

The debt was put into structured securities which means the banks/investors did not own individual loans. Letting people prepay for less than par would have caused infighting between the investors and was not legal for the servicers (administrators for these structures) to do.

[johngalt]

I understand that, but if I'm in risk group X and buy shares of the equivalent risk group. Why can't I trade those for my debt?

On one side we have underwater homeowners that have no option but to walk away. On the other side we have cash strapped banks that are holding on to debt obligations that are worthless because homeowners are all walking away.

It seems to me that giving homeowners a way to buy into this system rather than walk away from it would benefit everyone.

I understand there is no legal/contractual method for this currently. I was suggesting adding one.