'Living nightmare': Ghost-estate homeowners speak out
2 August 2013 Last updated at 10:59 BST
The Republic of Ireland was particularly hard hit by the bust in its property market five years ago.
House prices have recently started rising, but that's little consolation to some homeowners who remain stuck in limbo.
Many are paying mortgages on houses that were never completed.
Diarmaid Fleming meets the ghost-estate homeowners.