How to find the best loan for you You want the lowest rate and smallest monthly payment from your lender. Follow our plan to land a great deal on your mortgage.
	Jumbo loans still tough to get Allowing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the government-chartered mortgage companies, to buy larger loans hasn't helped.
	The 7 biggest mortgage mistakes Avoid these pitfalls and you'll save time, money and trouble.
	How much house can you afford? Follow two simple rules based on your income and debt, and you'll have no trouble making your monthly mortgage payments.
	5 smart moves to get the best rate Here's what you can do right now to qualify for a cheaper mortgage. And every tenth-of-a-point is worth fighting for.
	FHA loans a big help for first-time buyers If you have little or no money for a down payment, or iffy credit, this could be what you need.
	How to find the best real estate agent These 5 smart moves can help anyone buying a home hire the right agent, at the right price, with the right contract.

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	Buy now, before prices bottom out If you put off buying a home until the media starts reporting that home values are rising again, you'll have waited too long.
	Refinance before retiring If you've had your current loan long enough to take a bite out of your principal, this is a way to reduce monthly costs.
	Get three bids for home insurance Your lender will insist that you have a policy that's paid for, and in effect, when you close on your home purchase.
	Count child support and alimony as income They can boost your total earnings and help you qualify for a mortgage if you have proof they're actually being made.
	Keep up with volatile home prices They're falling in most U.S. cities, and you can't make a smart bid if you don't know exactly what's going on.
	Expect unexpected expenses First-time buyers should be prepared to spend at least $100 a month on routine maintenance and improvements.

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	Mortgage rates steady in latest survey The average conventional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now costs 6.13% while the average jumbo loan costs 7.35%.
	Banks look at new system for pricing loans It's the same one airlines, hotels and other businesses use to charge different prices for the same service.
	Is your state already in a recession? One prominent economist says 5 are and 15 more are in danger of joining them because of falling home prices and other woes.
	Don't let lenders sell your information Banks and mortgage companies usually seek permission to peddle what you put on your application to advertisers.
	Home sales seem to have stabilized We're now buying about 5 million homes a year, about a million fewer than during the go-go years of the real estate boom.
	We're spending more income on housing. Census data say 37% of homeowners with mortgages are devoting 30% or more of their pre-tax earnings.

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