We buttonholed a few folks this week on the streets of Park Slope and asked whether they knew anyone who’d been affected by the mortgage crisis. While no one reported trouble close to home, plenty thought it might be looming just ’round the corner…

I don’t know anybody who’s been affected, but I’ll probably see some in the coming months. Houses around here are so expensive that I don’t know how you can buy without a heavy mortgage.
Kyle; lives in Park Slope.

Not really, but I know mostly young people who’ve recently bought and people who’ve owned their houses for many years. I assume I’ll start seeing more people affected by it. Part of it might be, though, that it’s not something that people readily talk about.
Julia; lives in Fort Greene.

No. I certainly can’t imagine anyone I know having trouble with a mortgage, because I don’t know anyone in New York who can afford a mortgage–let alone be in trouble for it.
Steve; lives in Williamsburg.

No. I don’t really know anything about it.
Tiffany; lives in Park Slope.

No. I think I’ll probably see more, though. The market is obviously changing.
Abby; lives in Park Slope.