The “equity rich” are making up a bigger share of home owners. About 19 percent of all homes with a mortgage – or 9.9 million – fall into the “equity rich” category, which includes those with 50 percent or more equity in their homes, according to RealtyTrac’s first quarter Foreclosure Market report.

These equity-rich home owners may be a key to helping further boost the housing market recovery, says Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac.

“They could trade up for bigger and more expensive homes and put their old homes up for sale – opening up much needed housing for first-time buyers and those on tighter budgets,” according to Blomquist.

The following metro areas have the highest number of equity-rich homes (those with 50 percent equity or more):

• San Jose, Calif.: 39%   
• Honolulu: 35%
• San Francisco: 35%
• Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: 34%
• Los Angeles: 32%

Source: CNN Money