Mortgage Tips for 2010

Getting a home mortgage in 2010 is going to be a whole new ballgame. The real estate market and banking environment have changed dramatically over the course of the past couple years. The good news (for buyers at least) is that home prices are still dropping all over the United States, there are still helpful tax incentives available to purchasers, and mortgage rates have remained low... below 5 percent! Still, banks have really tightened things up in the past 15 months or so. Factors such as your personal credit score, your ability to put down a decent down payment, and your current employment status are going to play a much bigger role than they did in the last decade. US News recently interviewed several top housing experts and mortgage loan professionals to help people show plan to shop for a home -- and a home loan -- in 2010.

Here they are: Getting a Mortgage in 2010: 10 Things to Know