Too many families across Colorado have fallen victim to risky subprime mortgages.

Wall Street's big bet on risky mortgages may be souring a lot faster than had been previously thought.

In addition, riskier adjustable-rate mortgages have dwindled to 7 percent of business from 17 percent.

Some limits have been eased on a federal program to move people who owe more than their home is worth into less risky and lower-rate mortgages.

The percentage of risky mortgages was increased while rating companies claimed they were all top-rated.

IN recent years, borrowers have flocked to riskier mortgages that gave them the means of keeping up with an overheated housing market.

The easy money is making a quick exit out of risky mortgages.

Many of these risky mortgages were sold to investment banks, who carved them up into complex i.o.u.'s that they sold to investors worldwide.

Some buyers forge ahead, but end up taking out riskier mortgages simply to afford the monthly payments.

What makes this boom particularly unnerving is that it owes much of its longevity to the explosion in the number of risky mortgages.