Refinancing in a recession Our 6 smart moves will help you clear all the hurdles, take advantage of record low mortgage rates and cut your monthly payments.
	The ABCs of Obama's anti-foreclosure plan Here's how you can benefit from Washington's most ambitious effort to modify or refinance unaffordable mortgages.
	How to take advantage of a short sale These smart moves can help you buy a home at a bargain price without all the damage and repairs of a foreclosure.
	5 smart moves to get the best rate Here's what you can do right now to make yourself more credit worthy, whether you're buying or refinancing.
	How much house can you afford? Our four simple rules will make sure you can make the monthly payments and weather the recession.
	FHA loans great for buying, refinancing Borrowers with iffy credit and little equity or money for a down payment can get an affordable mortgage.
	How to save on closing costs Our 5 smart moves will help you spot and reduce unnecessary fees, making your settlement less costly and aggravating.

view all

	Mortgage rates fall in latest survey The average conventional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage now costs 5.70%, while the average jumbo loan costs 6.91%.
	Refinancing aid expands to more borrowers WASHINGTON -- The government will allow more distressed borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth to be eligible for refinancing assistance under an Obama administration housing rescue program.
	Appraisers want new rules rescinded WASHINGTON - A letter Wednesday to the Housing and Urban Development Department asks the agency to rescind rules regarding real estate appraisals claiming they lead to the use of under-qualified appraisers.
	Push to create consumer agency begins WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama asked Congress on Tuesday to create a new agency to police the fine print on credit card bills and mortgage documents and determine what fees, penalties and interest rates are fair.
	Home prices post 18.1% annual drop NEW YORK - Newfound signs of stability in the housing market could still be threatened by rising foreclosures and slow efforts to stop them, according to two reports released Tuesday.
	New appraisal rules hindering sales Jun. 29--When Chad Gartzke put his three-bedroom ranch home in Wauwatosa up for sale for $196,000, one of the first people to view it liked the house so much she was willing to pay $196,500 to make sure she got it.

view all

	Homes becoming more affordable With prices falling, more homes are within reach of families earning the national median income of $64,000.
	Decide what to spend before looking Without reasonable limits you'll probably buy a pricier home and take out a bigger mortgage than you can comfortably repay.
	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.
	Mortgage fees go up Borrowers with less than stellar credit will pay up to 3% of the loan amount.
	Jumbo loan limits raised again Stimulus plan lets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac resume buying big home loans in about 200 high-cost areas.
	Paying points can lower your mortgage rate These tax-deductible fees reduce monthly payments and the interest you pay over the life of the loan.

view all

Mortgage calculator
Calculate the monthly payments for any fixed-rate loan. Just enter the amount and terms.