In an ironic twist, couples who are splitting up are fighting over who gets burdened with the house. Home prices dropped 7.6 percent nationwide, but one city dropped more than 35 percent in one year. Closing costs are a pricey part of a homebuying experience. Which costs are negotiable? And who topped our list? The government's new rules ban stated-income loans and aim to stem the red tide of bad subprime mortgage loans.