From THESTREET.COM:  If you're stuck with a piece of property you can't sell, there's still hope.

Debt consolidation plans look good, but the question is whether they really work.

You've seen the ads on television or on the Internet promising to help you get out from under the mounds of credit-card debt you've accrued over the years. While their flashy images and promises to get rid of your debt are hypnotic, credit-strapped consumers need to look beyond the hard sell before signing up.