All too often, I get a call from a frantic customer who is going through home loan financing hell. It goes something like this: Their lender promised them the lowest rate and fees but once things got rolling, the terms that were promised changed and the mortgage banker stopped following up or responding.

It really frustrates me when I hear stories like this because they can easily be avoided. Most times they stem from the borrower’s tendency to base their incredibly important decision on which lender has the lowest fees. Unfortunately, the cheapest cost in the mortgage industry doesn’t always equal to the best outcome. For example, I don’t think you would necessarily want to seek the “cheapest” surgeon for an open-heart surgery or the “cheapest” attorney if you needed one – right? You would want to seek the most qualified person that would be able to deliver the best results …

Online and print media outlets abound with lists – 10 Ways to Save Money During Tax Season, 5 Things You Should Know Before Buying Your Own Home, and we’re not any different. We love lists as one way to bring you the latest in mortgages, real estate, and personal finance. But for this post, we decided to turn the lens inward and reflect a little on the past year. We wondered which posts have resonated with our readers the most (via traffic) this year. So here you have it, our top 5 blog posts of 2010:

1. Government Raising Borrowing Costs for FHA Insured Loans

Craig Grella tuned you in to rising fees for FHA mortgages due to the insurer’s move to “better account for risk and replenish its congressionally mandated reserves.” Big changes were reduced seller concessions, upfront insurance premiums, and a higher minimum credit score.

2.

Individuals who are interested in financing a manufactured or mobile home may think they need to apply for a mortgage just like any other type of home. However, this not correct, because many manufactured homes do not qualify for a mortgage but rather a personal loan.

Most manufactured homes are mobile, meaning you can move it from one lot to another. This is the reason why it’s considered personal property rather than a home. It’s also the reason why you need a personal loan.

With manufactured homes, you will need to put down at least five percent of the purchase price. You will then be able to finance the remainder for 20 to 30 years. Interest rates are determined by your credit just like a mortgage but run differently than the mortgage rates available for immobile homes.

The only exception to this rule for manufactured homes is if the house …