Who's to Blame?

Today, CNN Money takes a look at who is -- and isn't -- responsible for the subprime lending situation.

Their candidates and assessment:

1) Mortgage Brokers: Did brokers steer borrowers to loans they couldn't afford?
No, says the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, who puts the blame instead on lending companies. "It's the lender's money," said an organization representative. "They're reviewing the loans. They put loan programs out there and it's the mortgage broker's job to sell the programs."

2) Appraisers: Did inflated appraisals put home buyers in jeopardy?
Appraisers don't bear the primary responsibility for all the bad loans, says CNN Money. But more accurate appraisals could have lessened the severity of the problem, it added.

3) Regulators: Did Government agencies drop the ball?
Although regulators could probably have acted sooner to stem the worst abuses, the majority of the loans being done by companies like New Century and Countrywide were not under the control of bank regulators.

4) Lenders: Did they relax underwriting standards too much?
Lenders made far too many loans to borrowers they knew -- or should have known -- would not be able to pay them back.

5) Wall Street: Did investors purchase loans that were too risky?
Although it's not a primary cause of the subprime crisis, it certainly enabled it.

6) Real estate agents: Did agents encourage consumers to buy far more house than they could afford through the use of exotic mortgage products?
Perhaps on occasion. But ultimately, borrowers have to take on responsibility for staying on budget.