How did we get into this mess anyway?

Let's face it. Being nice just doesn't pay off in this day and age. The good guy always finishes last ... or so it seems sometimes.

My husband and I purchased a home - our first home - a few years ago. It truly was our dream home - big enough to host family and friends but small enough that we could handle the upkeep; inground pool; safe, quiet neighborhood close to both our jobs. It wasn't a new house, but a 1930's "character home" with some updates. We had looked at many, many homes, and this one was just perfect in our eyes.

We lived in the house for about a little over a year until my husband's job moved us to another state. Around that same time the economy began its downward spiral, taking the housing market with it. We tried to sell our beautiful little home with no luck. After several months of struggling to keep up two homes, we were forced to rent it to help pay the expenses.

Next time: The nightmare begins