In recent months, a wave of foreclosures has swept millions of American families from their homes. The magnitude of this crisis defies easy comprehension: more than 8 million American families are expected to lose their homes to foreclosure in the next four years. Much has been written about the financial and economic causes of this disaster. Much less notice has gone to another factor that has accelerated and multiplied this grave loss of homes and savings: antiquated state laws that in some ways afford fewer protections to homeowners than to renters.