Mr. Nallathambi said: 

“Since the foreclosure inventory is also coming down, this suggests that loan modifications, short sales, deeds-in-lieu are increasingly being used as an alternative to foreclosures to clear distressed assets in our communities."

Were that the case!  What the 20% decrease in completed foreclosures suggests to a person who stays abreast of the foreclosure-litigation world is that it isn't as easy to march off with someone's prized possession these days as the judiciary has had some time to consider facts. I don't think anyone, including me, stands for avoiding responsibility.  But I do stand for the proposition that those who avoided their responsibilities and damaged so many, and that's being kind,  should not benefit from that avoidance.