Real estate values continue to drop around the country while interest rates remain at historic lows. If you've had your eye on that perfect home for the past few years, this may seem like the perfect time to finally take the plunge and become a homeowner.

But wait - will you be able to qualify for the best mortgage rates and terms based upon your current FICO score?

Ever had a conversation with a shady customer service agent who demanded your FULL social security number and other personal information, which you reluctantly handed over? It can be a rather unsettling feeling when you realize that you probably just gave out way too much information to someone that might not actually be who they said they were. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help set your mind at ease.

Debit card issuers can no longer charge hefty overdraft fees unless you opt into their overdraft protection service. And much to their dismay, customers haven't been signing up in droves. So how are they making up for the lost overdraft fee revenue? New fees, of course.

But shouldn't debit cards be "free" to use in the first place? Well, in the past, debit card users grew accustomed to using their cards as a transaction-free method of payment. However, more and more consumers are now reporting the appearance of annual fees and/or transaction fees on their bank statements.

Married couples, especially those that have been separated for a long time, often assume that one spouse cannot be held responsible for the other spouse's credit card debt unless they are joint account holders. Unfortunately, for couples that live in a community property state, this isn't the case.