About this series: Just two years ago, Wright County epitomized the American dream of home ownership. Young families went there in droves, attracted by the cheap land, good schools and bucolic neighborhoods. But today, that dream is unraveling, as foreclosures rip through Wright County neighborhoods at a rate of 23 a week. What happened? TODAY: Plummeting home values means some families are trapped, unable to refinance, sell or make ends meet.

MONDAY: Speculators helped drive the boom in Wright County -- and the bust.

TUESDAY: Towns welcomed the development with new schools and wider roads. Now they're paying the price.