Personally, I would recommend renting for a bit longer if that is what you are now doing. The recent bank settlement thing is supposed to help clear up the foreclosure backlog and make it easier for the banks to take possesion. When that happens and they suddenly have an enormous inventory, I think they will try to unload it and drive market prices lower. Your best price and lower fees may be ahead. And if you take my advice, you could easily wind up as broke as I am ;)

Bring it to the editor's attention, point out that it short-changed the readers or gav ethem inaccurate info, and ask to be shown the FINAL layout so you can catch the cropping problems. That's what happens when you have graphics artists doing layout in a subject they know nothing about.

Can I assume that you fellows have 3 - 6 months' income set aside in an emergency fund in case some rather urgent and catastrophic, unexpected expense turns up - or you get no income for an extended period, e.g. go on strike? Trouble is - when the investment's set up to be pretty well immediately available, usually the rate of return is low. Not much fun to get 2% on invested emergency money - but be paying 5 - 7% on mortgage. I often don't have emergency funds on hand, but have invested assets more than adequate to use as collateral for a loan in case of emergency - at lower rate of interest, as the loan is fully secured by easily-liquidatable assets, unlike the hassle of repossessing, towing, storing and selling a car used as collateral for a loan to buy it. Canadians not allowed to use registered retirement accounts as collateral for loans - but if one carries a substantial amount in such a fund with that institution, usually they'll set up a loan that's officially unsecured, but at a lower rate than that usually charged on an unsecured loan. When I make such a loan, though, the interest is not deductible. Possible problem - if one gets laid off and goes to make such a loan to tide one over, when the bank asks who is one's employer and hears that there isn't one at present - the loan is more than likely refused. But - a number of my investments are carried by the stockbroker. If I have regular, quality assets of, say, $10,000., the broker will lend me up to $5,000. without question. S/he doesn't care whether I'm employed or not. Careful, though - if my $10,000. asset declines in value to $8,000. and I had borrowed the full eligible amount of $5,000., the broker will call me to ask me for a deposit of at least $1,000. to reduce my loan to $4,000.: by tomorrow, at the latest. More than likely s/he'll ask for $1,500. or so, to add a little cushion in case of further reduction in value. If I can't come up with the required amount, then they must sell some of my asset - which results in a reduction in the amount of the asset underlying the loan. Not a good course: I don't want margin calls for either my clients or myself. Here in Canada, mortgage interest on owner-occupied home is not deductible - but when home is sold for a gain, total amount of gain is tax-free. Interest on money borrowed for non-registered investment is deductible, but on money invested in registered retirement account isn't - as the amount invested is deductible, within limits. Many advisors suggest borrow to invest in retirement account, early in year before deadline, then when tax refund relative to the deduction for the retirement account investment arrives, use it to pay down loan, try to have loan paid off before year end. Good wishes as you attempt to make your money work most effectively for you and yours, ole joyful

>>If I was in my 70's, I sure wouldn't invest any more money in the stock market.If you were in your 70's, I assume you would have a more conservative mix of stocks/bonds anyway. I think emerging markets will continue to see some growth, but you need to be aware that both Chinese and Russian governments manipulate their stock markets extensively without any of the (yes, sometimes ineffectual but still extant SEC) transparency we have in the US and Eurozone markets. They are not for amateur investors; if you invest there you need to pay good attention to international business news. Our CDO problem has spilled over to foreign investors because the Fed encouraged them to buy more US assets back when the dollar was strong. I think we do far more harm to ourselves by not teaching the basics of finance and investing to everyone while still in school, than almost anything else. IMHO: Is there a crisis? Yes. Is the Fed and Treasury this time (as opposed to 1929) doing the right things? Yes. Will it take time - several quarters, at least - to see the results? Yes. The "bailout" (I hate that word) hasn't worked because...it hasn't gone into effect yet. The guy proposed to run it still has to be vetted by the Congressional oversight committee. If they don't like him, that delays the whole thing yet again. The markets panic because they are supposed to look forward, but right now they are frozen in a "day-to-day" mode. The general trend is down because the hedge funds are going to have to sell their holdings for redemptions from spooked investors. Forced selling always creates a lower Dow. It will pass, it always does. It wasn't pleasant watching our portfolio drop 26% during the years 2000-2001. But it recovered to the point where our 20-yr ROI remains in the 11% range despite the three quarters of 2008. We are still holding six-figure gains compared to what we held at the end of the bear market in Dec 2001. If you are working and still contributing to a retirement plan, the market noise should not and need not affect you. This is assuming you have a properly diversified portfolio that will give you less risk with reasonable returns over the long-term. All this nervousness is the reason why I was against privatizing Social Security accounts; most people simply do not have any stomach for risk, nor can they see the long-term even though they may not need the money for 10 or 20 years yet. However, this is a very difficult time for those who are in retirement or planning to retire in the next 24 months. Without a DBP (defined benefit pension), VUL (variable universal life), or annuity policy set up, there aren't many people who can cut their expenses back 30% immediately and survive.