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About 1.7 million homes that were worth less than the mortgages on them regained equity as home prices rose in 2012, 
according to a report by CoreLogic.
This is certainly another sign that the housing market continues to improve. But remember, there are still 10.4 million homes underwater nationwide and more than 2 million homeowners with less than 5 percent equity, the report shows.
At least 1 in every 5 homes with a mortgage was upside-down at the end of the year, according to CoreLogic.
Certain states face a direr situation.
In Nevada, more than half of the homes with a mortgage are upside-down. In Florida, 42 percent of homes are worth less than what the homeowners owe on the mortgages, followed by Arizona with 38.6 percent, Georgia with 35.6 percent and Michigan at 32 percent.
"There is certainly more to do, but with fewer borrowers underwater, the fundamentals underpinning the housing market will continue to strengthen," Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, said in a statement. "The trend toward more homeowners moving back into positive equity territory should continue in 2013."
What can you do if you are underwater?
Many homeowners with little or no equity try to minimize the financial damage by refinancing to lower their monthly payments through the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, a government-sponsored program that allows borrowers to refinance regardless of how underwater they are.
More than 1.1 million HARP refinances were completed in 2012, according to a recent report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The program expires at the end of the year.
If you think you may benefit from a HARP refinance, this infographic can help you determine eligibility.
Follow me on Twitter @Polyanad.
Does this mean that the HARP 3.0 program is poised to happen? I hear it's being held up in Washington. HARP 2.0 is not able to help me due to my loan not being backed by Fannie/Freddie.
Karol, I'm hosed too. I bought a house in 2004 and owe about 220k on it, its worth around 140k but there's no help for me. We moved from the home in 2008 because of work and I've been renting the thing out at a loss every month and have been doing so for over 4 years. I've been waiting but the markets are going up in value INCREDIBLY SLOWLY so the odds of me being able to hold onto it until I can sell it decrease every month. Not eligible for HARP or anything else. Would have been happy to sell if for what I owed instead of renting it or any point since.
I am underwater with an adjustable loan and have no equity.
I owe about $245,000.00 and my home is worth maybe $100,000.00
I filed a chapter 7 over three years ago to be able to stay in my home and make payments. They modifyed the loan and tacked money on the end of my loan. I am retired and disabled and barly making my mortgage, along with rising medical bills, rising utility bills. I shre this with a family member making $11.00 an hour who has her own bills to pay as well. Where and when will there be help for us.
thank you Karol Hystad