Recent content by Banana_IHB

I thought I would ask all of the experts here what your opinion is on interest rates in the context of student loans. Currently, the fed rate is 1.5%. A huge portion of my student loans are not yet consolidated and are still variable. These loans are at either 4% or 4.25% where they started...

Awgee - I particularly enjoyed that game last year as well. It made me smile when there was a noticeable decline in USC flags flying on Balboa immediately after the game. But, I would be stunned if something like that happened again. Let's just hope their offense catches up with their defense...

HSBC has a 5.05% savings account. You should check it out at:http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/personal.

On a side note, can someone please tell me why my formatting disappears when I post here? I am on a mac. Does that have something to do with it? Thanks!

My non-negotiables include: * Master bath with a tub type shower, or separate tub and shower (not just a stall) * Parking for at least 2 cars * The kitchen must view the living room/tv area * Downstairs bathroom with a tub (for dog baths) * grass in the back yard somewhere...

nirvinerealtor - I would not say from the above statistics that realtors are over-educated or underpaid. Compared to the general population (in 2000, the last census), realtors only have slightly more education than the general public (8.3% graduate degrees; 16% bachelor's; 5.2% associate's...

CalGal - I can definitely relate to your experience! My husband and I are actually not in a position to buy right now (using traditional financing), but since discovering this blog I have changed my attitude from: "Oh poor us, we can't afford to buy a house yet" to "this is fine, we have plenty...

I want to sign up for a service online where I can check my credit report & score anytime. Any suggestions on which service and package is best? I figured most of you probably already do this. Thanks!

"We are forecasting another leg down in the housing market," says economist David Shulman of the UCLA Anderson Forecast. "This could last into 2009 or 2010." Looks like IrvineRenter is not alone on his prediction. http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=4734564

Certainly, student loan debt is about as good as debt can get (although, in my particular situation, both of my car loans (4.2% and 6.7%) have interest rates lower than most of my student loans). The question is not really what kind of debt to pay off first, but rather, whether to pay off debt...

I read a comment on the OCRegister Blog that made me think about the concept of a starter home. I just kind of accepted that this was the way to go: buy your first house knowing that you will eventually grow out of it with kids or other reasons and then move to a better home. But, in doing...

Well, I haven't actually researched this issue but my first impression is that there is really no way for someone to sue over something like this. You would have to look at the language of whatever certification they gave you. I highly doubt that they say nothing bad will ever happen in a...

GrewUpInIrvine - it is not our idea of a "lifestyle" either. It's amazing the lies attorneys will tell you during interviews (and entire summers)...currently looking to leave as even a big firm doesn't require these kinds of hours and they pay almost double!

Skeptic, One of us is going to a relatively large firm and the other is currently working at a so-called mid-size "lifestyle" firm (that still wants billables of 2500+). That is another reason that we want to wait a few years before getting tied to a mortgage. That way we have enough time...

Even if IrvineRenter's prediction on housing prices is not totally accurate (although, I suspect that he is right on), his advice this time was more waiting until I can actually afford a home, rather than try to buy as soon as possible with 5% down and be irresponsible. If prices go up from...