Key Questions:

1. How at risk is San Mateo, California to the subprime mortgage crisis?
   1. There were significantly less subprime loans taken out by home owners in San Mateo, California than the national average in 2006. That is to say, San Mateo, California will be less affected by the subprime mortgage crisis in years to come as a lesser percentage of all mortgages in San Mateo, California - 7.5% versus 12.0% - will reset to higher rates in 2008. This will mean that there will be less foreclosures caused by the reseting of subprime mortgages in San Mateo, California than other areas of the US.
2. How stretched will home owners in San Mateo, California be in paying off their mortgage?
   1. Homeowners in San Mateo, California borrowed an average of 2.55 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 San Mateo, California homeowners will default on their mortgage payments in the coming years.
3. Who are the leading lenders in San Mateo, California?
   1. The leading lenders, by market share, are Washington Mutual Bank, Bank Of America, N.A. and World Savings Bank, Fsb. Do you have the best rate possible? Get quotes from mortgage lenders.
4. How likely are the owners of homes in San Mateo, California to actually live in them?
   1. 92.0% of home owners in San Mateo, 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%.