Key Questions:

1. Who are the leading lenders in Merced, California?
   1. The leading lenders, by market share, are Countrywide Bank, Fsb, Jpmorgan Chase Bank, Na and Wells Fargo Bank, Na. Do you have the best rate possible? Find out your credit score or browse
2. How stretched will home owners in Merced, California be in paying off their mortgage?
   1. Homeowners in Merced, California borrowed an average of 2.13 times their annual income for their mortgage. This compares to 1.97 for all of the US. Based on the national average, there will be a normal risk that Merced, California homeowners will default on their mortgage payments in the coming years.
3. How likely are the owners of homes in Merced, California to actually live in them?
   1. 84.3% of home owners in Merced, California that applied for a mortgage in 2008 live in their homes versus owning them as an investment property. This compares to the national average of 90.0%.
4. How at risk is Merced, California to the subprime mortgage crisis?
   1. Loans taken out by home owners in Merced, California are within a +/- 10 percent band of the national average. That is to say, Merced, California will likely be affected by the subprime mortgage crisis just like the average county in the US.