Key Questions:

1. How at risk is Maryland to the subprime mortgage crisis?
   1. Subprime loans taken out by home owners in Maryland were meaningful more than the national average in 2006. That is to say, Maryland will likely be more affected by the subprime mortgage crisis in years to come as a greater percentage of all mortgages in Maryland - 14.0% versus 12.0% - will reset to higher rates in 2008. This will likely trigger a higher amount of foreclosures caused by the reseting of subprime mortgages in Maryland than other areas of the US.
2. How stretched will home owners in Maryland be in paying off their mortgage?
   1. Homeowners in Maryland borrowed an average of 2.13 times their annual income for their mortgage. This compares to 1.83 for all of the US. Based on the national average, there will be a normal risk that Maryland homeowners will default on their mortgage payments in the coming years.
3. Who are the leading lenders in Maryland?
   1. The leading lenders, by market share, are Countrywide Home Loans, Wells Fargo Bank, Na and Bank Of America, N.A.. Do you have the best rate possible? Get quotes from mortgage lenders.
4. How likely are the owners of homes in Maryland to actually live in them?
   1. 91.7% of home owners in Maryland 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%.