The context of that, however, is in Stockton, California, so it only applies in that area. In addition it comes from the 60 Minute piece on foreclosures. One of the recent developments is, people who are losing their houses are trashing them before they leave.
             Under normal conditions, a lender could go after the borrower for a deficit judgement in a case like that. However, if the lender can just go to another country and not come back, that remedy is off the table.
             I would probably agree that one could delete the word "much," and simply say: "This makes the entire situation worse..."