In explaining why highly levered, speculative cycles are so damaging to balance sheets and financial stability, I often reference the reality that when asset bubbles burst, prices drop and debt level rise, evaporating net worth rapidly and intensifying selling pressure.
The graphic below captures the point within the context of housing. Of course, the same applies to leveraged participants in security markets when prices tumble and margin and other debt borrowed to buy them do not. Margin calls and demand loan payments then force the borrower to add more cash or sell falling assets to