Mortgage rates jump back up After a tumultuous year full of ups and downs, most home loans cost almost exactly the same as last summer.
	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
	10 smart moves for buying a foreclosure You'll save 10% to 20% -- even after repairs -- if you get a good deal and avoid all the costly pitfalls.
	What's going on with jumbo loans? Although interest rates are down for some types of large mortgages, lenders are still demanding big down payments.

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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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	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.
	Mortgage rates surge in latest survey The average conventional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage now costs 6.77% while the average jumbo loan costs 7.68%.
	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.
	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.
	Mortgage insurance more costly, tougher to get Insurers are boosting premiums and qualifying standards because of falling home prices and record default rates.
	Banks' new scheme to sell foreclosed homes They're offering eye-popping discounts to attract potential buyers and then asking for a higher bid.

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