Interest rates have pushed mortgage payments higher. The softening real estate market has made it difficult for homeowners to sell or refinance. And just in time for the holidays, Boston is increasing its residential tax rates…and for some, the increase is going to hurt even more. From Boston.com:

The annual tax bill for the average single-family house will increase from $2,755 this year to $3,093, starting in January. The estimated bill for the average two-family house will jump from $3,307 to $3,857, while the bill for the average three-family house is expected to increase from $3,725 to $4,309.

Meanwhile, in other news, some argue that the financial crisis facing homeowners is nothing like it was in the early 1990s. The Lowell Sun reports that might not be the case:

Massachusetts homeowners had 4,891 foreclosure actions filed against them during the third quarter of this year, 66 percent higher than the same period in 2005, according to ForeclosuresMass.com, a provider of such data. The most recent data indicates that foreclosure filings are on record pace, higher even than the dark days of 1991.