Most people in the US are aware of the current real estate crisis and the unsettling fact that many people are losing their homes to foreclosure. Before a home is in the process of becoming foreclosed, it is in the pre-foreclosure stage. The pre-foreclosure period can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and is considered by many real estate investors as the absolute best time in which to negotiate the purchase of a home.

Trying economic times have many people more worried than ever about their retirement investments. Stocks experience breathtaking highs and lows every day, leading to high stress for investors. Some have chosen to take control of the situation on their own and have turned to DIY super funds. Each individual investor will have to determine if these funds are a worthwhile exercise.

In recent years mutual fund rates have been dismal. In particular, of the last ten years, four have been in negative territory and four have been in positive territory. The other two years of the decade were positive but underwhelming around 5% annualized. The result is that an investor who put in $1000 has either not gained any return, or even lost it should inflation be accounted for in calculating returns.

I don’t know of anybody who hasn’t been affected by the financial turmoil we have seen over the last couple of years. If you have any wealth at all then you will have seen some effect. This has made people think more about their investments and start seeking out other alternative investments.

The Government National Mortgage Association (known also affectionately as Ginnie Mae) is an organization that provides backing to mortgages with government money. Unlike its sibling Fannie Mae, it receives explicit, written support from the Federal government in the event of default of underlying loans.