Key Questions:

1. How at risk is Contra Costa, California to the subprime mortgage crisis?
   1. Loans taken out by home owners in Contra Costa, California are within a +/- 10 percent band of the national average. That is to say, Contra Costa, California will likely be affected by the subprime mortgage crisis just like the average county in the US.
2. How stretched will home owners in Contra Costa, California be in paying off their mortgage?
   1. Homeowners in Contra Costa, California borrowed an average of 2.44 times their annual income for their mortgage. This compares to 1.83 for all of the US. Based on the national average, a signficantly higher risk that Contra Costa, California homeowners will default on their mortgage payments in the coming years.
3. Who are the leading lenders in Contra Costa, California?
   1. The leading lenders, by market share, are World Savings Bank, Fsb, Washington Mutual Bank and Countrywide Home Loans. Do you have the best rate possible? Get quotes from mortgage lenders.
4. How likely are the owners of homes in Contra Costa, California to actually live in them?
   1. 92.7% of home owners in Contra Costa, California that applied for a mortgage in 2006 live in their homes versus owning them as an investment property. This compares to the national average of 89.0%.