Jumbo rates reach record lows, too But you'll still need a substantial income, little debt and a big down payment to take advantage of the low rates.
	How to land the best loan Our plan will help you find the cheapest possible mortgage and walk you through the application process.
	6 smart moves for refinancing now Here's how to beat all of the strict new rules for getting a new mortgage and land the loan you need.
	VA loans: The best mortgages around If you've served in the military, you can qualify for a good rate even with bad credit and no money for a down payment.
	8 smart moves for buying a foreclosure You'll save 10% to 20% -- even after repairs -- if you get a good deal and avoid the costly pitfalls.
	How much house can you afford? Our four simple rules will make sure you can make the monthly payments and weather the recession.
	The 7 biggest mortgage mistakes Avoid these pitfalls, and you'll save all sorts of time, money and aggravation.

view all

	California Deal: 3.75% 15-year mortgage This fixed-rate loan carries no points and a total refinancing cost of $1,790, but you'll need solid credit.
	Fixed mortgage rates hit record lows The average conventional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage now costs 4.53%, while the average jumbo loan costs 5.17%.
	EverBank's 30-year mortgage dips to 4.00% The online Florida bank's rate is half a percentage point below the national average for these fixed-rate loans.
	West Coast Deal: 3.75% on 15-year loan Southwestern Mortgage's loan is only available to Californians, but costs a quarter-point less than the national average.
	Businesses hold key to boost economy The nation's economy floats on a $35 trillion sea of debt.
	Texas Deal: 3.125% for a 5-year ARM For the first five years, you'll pay just $428 a month in principal and interest for every $100,000 you borrow.

view all

	Interest gobbles up most of your payment The balance on your loan will fall more slowly than you expect because you owe so much in interest each month.
	Know how much you can afford to borrow Without a clear limit, you'll be tempted to buy a more costly home, with 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.
	Making the right bid is critical in short sales Your first offer needs to be realistic and have a good chance of being accepted by the lender.
	Pay down your bills before trying to refinance Lenders will count your auto and student loans and credit card debt, plus any alimony and child support you owe, before giving you a new loan.
	Judge a home's walkability before you buy Here's a Web site that tells you how far it is from schools and stores, and scores how much you can do on foot.

view all

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