Jackson to mortgage own songs - 2005-03-20
Michael Jackson has made a deal to mortgage the whole back catalogue of his own songs, including hits such as Billie Jean and Beat It, for $72 million.

The pop star, described last week in court as being "on the precipice of bankruptcy", borrowed the money two years ago to pay off some of his huge debts and continue to fund his expensive lifestyle.
Read the full story at Melbourne Herald Sun

Mortgage Pre-approval Should be 1st Step - 2005-03-20
Before you initiate the big home-buying plunge, you should do a few things to ensure the best experience possible.

The first this is: Get pre-approved for a mortgage.
"The seller is not going to want to entertain an offer unless they know you can get a loan," said Toni Keyes, broker at Lakeland's CDC Properties.

"Also you want to determine what you can afford so you don't go out and fall in love with a house you can't afford," Keyes said.
Read the full story at The Ledger