These are just some of the results of an online survey of 2,082 U.S. adults ages 18 and over, of whom 1,331 are homeowners, conducted by Harris Interactive ^® between December 10 and 12, 2007 for The Wall Street Journal Online.

When asked who is most responsible for the trouble in the housing market and mortgage business, half (52%) say mortgage lenders and brokers, while 21 percent say government regulators, 16 percent say home buyers and 11 percent say someone else. Nearly half (48%) also say direct lenders are most responsible for making sure borrowers are able to pay their mortgages and should be required to modify loan terms for mortgage holders who couldn ’t afford their current terms. By comparison, 15 percent disagree and 24 percent say they neither agree nor disagree.

U.S. adults are divided on whether direct lenders are not responsible for borrowers who "invested recklessly or bought more house than they could afford," with 34 percent agreeing, 35 percent disagreeing and 21 percent saying they neither agree nor disagree. Twenty-two percent say a freeze on rates on adjustable mortgages will unfairly penalize mortgage investors, compared with 31 percent who feel it won't. Thirty-seven percent say that a rate freeze will unfairly reward borrowers who made bad financial decisions, compared with 21 percent who disagree.

Despite indications of a wave in home foreclosures, only two percent of U.S. adults say they have missed several mortgage payments or have been in the foreclosure process, while seven percent say they expect to have difficulty obtaining a mortgage or refinancing a mortgage. Furthermore, 14 percent plan to delay the sale or purchase of a home, while two percent plan to lower the asking price of the home they are selling.

Nearly half (48%) of homeowners say the value of their home increased at least moderately in 2007 and 41 percent are optimistic that its value will increase over the coming year. Only 15 percent of homeowners responding to the poll believe their home's value will decrease in the coming year, including one percent who think it will decrease significantly.

When asked about their current or most recent mortgage, 58 percent say that they do not consider it to be "subprime", with almost one-third (31%) indicating that they are not sure if their current mortgage is considered to be subprime. Among those with household income less than $35K, 47 percent are unsure whether their mortgage is subprime, compared with 21 percent of those with income $75K or higher

About half (47%) of U.S. adults who have a mortgage on their home say they obtained it through a direct lender, while nearly one-third obtained their mortgage from a mortgage broker. Homeowners with higher incomes are more likely to say they obtained their last mortgage through a direct lender and those with household income less than $35K are more likely to have used a mortgage broker.

Eight percent of mortgage holders say they chose their particular mortgage because of "speed or less paperwork," while another eight percent cited easier qualification. Only six percent say "it was the only loan they qualified for ” and four percent say they didn't mean to choose that particular mortgage. Seven percent of mortgage holders believe they were misinformed or otherwise misled by their mortgage broker or loan officer about the terms of their loan, compared with 85 percent who feel they weren't misled or misinformed. Among younger mortgage holders ages 18 to 34, 13 percent believe they were misinformed and 17 percent say they aren't sure.

Peggy Lebenson, Senior Vice President for Financial Services at Harris Interactive, comments, “Even though the sub-prime crisis directly affects only a small proportion of Americans, the damage to Americans ’ trust of direct mortgage lenders is widespread and may long outlast this crisis. Direct lenders should reach out to their customers and potential customers now to begin to restore their trust. ”

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.