The goal of this website is to make you a better educated consumer of mortgages and save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars.

A lot has happened during the last four years. We have witnessed the worst economic downturn since the great depression, the bust of the biggest housing bubble ever, record setting levels of unemployment, the biggest loss of wealth in recorded history, and dire financial predictions for years, possibly decades.

We have been flooded by media reports stating record levels of mortgage fraud, delinquent mortgage payments, and foreclosures. We have seen tragic stories of home owners suffering from payment shock, borrowing more than their homes are worth, and ultimately losing their homes.

Home owners followed their lenders blindly. What ever the lender said they could have and what ever the lender charged, the home owner took. If these home owners had shopped, compared, and negotiated their mortgages wisely, we might not have seen such a wide swath of economic devastation.

That is what Mortgage Tips 101 is all about. Educating you on how to get the best possible mortgage and minimize your financial risk no matter what the economic climate is. Financing property can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life if you follow the instructions and put in the work.

Now lets talk about what this site is not about.

Mortgage Tips 101 makes no promises or guarantees that you will be approved for every mortgage you apply for. The days of loose lending are gone. Getting approved for a mortgage when you have no income and no assets are long gone. Risky mortgage vehicles such as the interest only mortgage, reverse ammoritization loan, or the 85/15 mortgage are long gone. We want you to look at your situation realistically, set realistic expectations, and expect realistic results.

Additionally, you can do everything right when you apply for your home mortgage and still hear, "No deal," from your lender. Every mortgage situation is unique and to expect 100% success, 100% of the time is not realistic.

This website will educate you about mortgages and allow you to approach any mortgage negotiation with the best laid out plan and the highest possibility of success. In the end though, your hard work might not pay off and you might have to go back to the drawing board.

Finally, Foreclosure Tips 101 is not about ax grinding. We don't care about Republicans, Democrats, lenders, banks, political institutions, or political affiliations.

Arguments regarding whether lending regulations should be tightened or left alone will not be argued here. We will provide you with guidance that will work within the confines of the law, no matter what the laws are.

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, what role the U.S. Government should play in commercial lending, and who is to blame for the mortgage meltdown are issues that will not be covered by this website.

If you are looking for a place to discuss those issues, there are better forums than here.

Mortgage Tips 101 is about educating you on how to get the best mortgage deal possible. That is it. Period.

Now lets get to work and create the best possible mortgage for you!