In about a quarter of US states, all residential mortgages are essentially non-recourse, meaning that in case of default, the lender can only repossess the house but cannot collect on the private assets and future income of the borrower. This American innovation is now beginning to attract...

Many US states mandate only non-recourse mortgages for dwellings, thus limiting choice and raising prices. Given the perceived benefit of such mortgages, it is a puzzling fact that no lenders currently offer them in "choice" states. We simulate a housing market with a spectrum of borrowers with...