Stress in the nation's mortgage industry is putting a financial squeeze on home buyers and homeowners alike. Buyers are finding it harder to obtain home loans as lenders tighten their credit standards or even go out of business. Homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) face a double-whammy. House prices are falling even as their monthly home payments adjust upward in a big way. So when ...

Expert: Don Taylor, Ph.D., CFA, CFP (Bankrate.com)
Dear Dr. Don, I borrowed $150,000 at 5.5 percent from my life insurance policy to buy some land. The interest is not tax deductible. I owe nothing on my home.