Golden Gateway Financial Blog

By Sue McAllister
Published in Mercury News
March 12, 2010
Prospective homebuyers exploring Silicon Valley real estate this spring have plenty to learn about, from bank-owned properties to the strict criteria for getting a mortgage these days. And now the federal government has added more to the mix: the revamped good-faith estimate.
Designed by the U.S. Department of Housing [...]

Published in Los Angeles Times
March 12, 2010
Washington - Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth — gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight. And it was less than in the previous two quarters.
…read full story

By E. Scott Reckard
Published in Los Angeles Times
March 12, 2010
The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.95% this week from 4.97% last week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The mortgage giant’s weekly survey asks lenders what rates they were offering — and the upfront fees they would charge — for borrowers with [...]

By Luke Mullins
Published in US News
March 12, 2010
Although the U.S. housing market witnessed its smallest annual increase in foreclosure activity in four years last month, distressed-property tallies are expected to remain in an elevated range for some time. Foreclosure filings were reported on more than 308,000 American homes in February, RealtyTrac said Thursday. That’s a [...]

By Matt Krantz
Published in USATODAY
March 12, 2010
There’s really no one-size-fits-all recommendation when it comes to retirement accounts. Each type has its merits, which makes it perfect for some investors but not for others. Without knowing your situation, it’s impossible to determine which is best for you.
…read full story

Published in The Wall Street Journal
March 12, 2010
Is it too late to save your retirement?
For many, the answer is surely yes. News out this week shows that 29% of those who have already retired have saved nothing at all to support themselves, while only a third have saved at least $50,000. To put this in [...]