Protect yourself against mortgage discrimination - 2004-03-14
If you owe the IRS huge sums of money for 2003 and maybe some back taxes too, you're probably stressing out about now. Thoughts of bankruptcy may even have crossed your mind.

Check out the property appraisal. Poor appraisals can cause mortgage applications to be rejected. Get a copy from the lender and make sure it contains accurate information. Find out whether the appraiser considered illegal factors, such as the racial composition of the neighborhood.
Read the full story at St. Petersburg Times

Adjustable-rate mortgages often smart - 2004-03-14
When Meredith Klein acquired her first home earlier this month, she decided against opting for a traditional fixed-rate mortgage.

Instead, she chose to buy the three-bedroom colonial in Lynn, Mass., with an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM. Her interest rate of 4.375 percent is locked in for five years but will rise or fall with the market after that.
Read the full story at newsobserver.com