borrowers were less likely to default on their mortgages as they could release
money from their homes if they ran into debt. This group of borrowers was known collectively
as the subprime market. Subprime borrowers typically had poor credit histories, insufficient
money for a down payment and reduced repayment capacity. As a consequence of the credit
worthiness of the borrowers, subprime loans had a higher risk of default than loans to prime
borrowers. As the lending qualifications became increasingly relaxed borrowers no longer had
to prove their annual income, they just had to state it. Subsequently borrowers did not even
have to notify who their employer was, just provide a positive bank balance. Why were lenders
so relaxed about the risk of default? Well, lenders did not keep the mortgages. They sold the
mortgages to Wall Street investment banks. They simply transferred the risk.