Can Washington help you refinance? Its new foreclosure-fighting program is open to almost everyone, but your lender still has the final word.
	How much house can you afford? Follow these simple rules and you'll have no trouble making your monthly mortgage payments.
	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.
	FHA loans can help first-time buyers If you have little or no money for a down payment, or iffy credit, this could be what you need.
	The 7 biggest mortgage mistakes Avoid these pitfalls and you'll save time, money and aggravation
	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.
	10 questions your GFE should answer Use your Good Faith Estimate to make sure you're getting the loan you've been promised and avoid nasty surprises.

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	Determine a home's walkability before you buy Here's a Web site that determines how far it is from schools and stores, and scores how much you can do on foot.
	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.
	Take advantage of more than 2 million empty homes Whether it's owned by a bank, builder or individual, a vacant home gives you more leverage to pay less and dicker for incentives.
	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.
	Consider a 5/1 ARM These adjustable-rate mortgages are suddenly offering good enough rates to be an alternative to fixed-rate loans.
	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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	Here's where homeowners have lost the most equity The average homeowner in these 10 cities lost half of their equity in just a year, according to Forbes magazine.
	Where it's smarter to rent than buy In some neighborhoods, it's still 20 or even 30 times more costly to buy a home than to rent one.
	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.
	The best cities to buy a home Places with rising home prices and low vacancy rates, such as Houston and Austin, top this list from Forbes magazine.
	Home sales slow but stable We're now buying just under 5 million homes a year, about a million fewer than during the go-go years of the real estate boom.
	Affordability still a problem for first-time homebuyers Although home prices are down, in many areas they are still unaffordable for first-time home buyers

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