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A guide to getting your first mortgage 10/26/2014 12:00pm • To buy your first home, you likely will need a mortgage. In fact, before you even start looking at houses, you should look into your mortgage prospects. If you have good credit, a healthy income and money in the bank, you'll be able to secure mortgage preapproval quickly and proceed straight to Europe's bank test aims to strengthen economy 10/25/2014 02:34pm • DAVID McHUGH Associated Press FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The European Central Bank on Sunday will reveal the results of a yearlong search through the books of Europe's 130 biggest banks, a key part of the region's effort to recover from its debt and economic crisis.The review aims to weed out banks Kentucky Senate candidates spar over new ads 10/25/2014 05:00am • ADAM BEAM Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The campaign for Democratic senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes challenged a new ad from Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell that boasted his support among women, contending it featured a woman who is registered to vote in Pennsylvania.The McConnell Is refinancing your mortgage worth it? 10/25/2014 01:10am • ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer The interest rate pendulum has swung in favor of homeowners again.A steady decline in recent weeks brought down the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan below 4 percent to 3.92 percent this week, the lowest level in more than a year. As recently as January, the av Venezuelans brace for slump in oil prices 10/25/2014 12:26am • JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- The falling oil prices that are providing relief to drivers around the world threaten to bring more misery to the life of Milagro Alvarez and millions of other Venezuelans, whose country depends almost exclusively on oil revenue.The math tea North Dakota reaches deal to keep dinosaur mummy 10/24/2014 10:26pm • JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Dakota the duckbilled dinosaur might have found permanent digs in Bismarck.State Historical Society Director Merl Paaverud said officials have reached a $3 million deal to keep the rare mummified fossil on display at the North Dakota Heritage All hail King James: LeBron rules NBA 10/24/2014 09:20pm • TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) -- His shirt soaked with champagne after winning his fourth title in 2007, Tim Duncan had one more move before celebrating further with his Spurs teammates. He pivoted in a hallway inside Quicken Loans Arena, pulled 22-year-old LeBron James close and deliv Regulators close small Illinois bank 10/24/2014 07:50pm • WASHINGTON (AP) -- Regulators have closed a small lender in Illinois, bringing U.S. bank failures this year to 16 after 24 closures in all of 2013.The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday that it has taken over The National Republic Bank of Chicago, based in Chicago.The bank, which operated t Senate Democrats borrow $10M as races tighten 10/24/2014 05:30pm • PHILIP ELLIOTT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats' campaign operation on Friday said it borrowed $10 million for a last-minute boost to their fundraising, as officials see their majority increasingly in peril and Republicans gaining momentum.Republicans are running strong races aga China, 20 other countries initiate new Asian bank 10/24/2014 02:54pm • CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press BEIJING (AP) -- Twenty-one Asian nations have signed on to a China-driven initiative to create a new development bank for Asia that's aimed at boosting infrastructure investment of all kinds. Beijing sees that as a way to raise its international standing, but Wash S&P upgrades Cyprus on commitment to bailout deal 10/24/2014 01:40pm • NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) -- Rating agency Standard & Poor's gave Cyprus a pat on the back with a one notch upgrade to its credit grade, to B+, citing its commitment to the terms of its bailout program and better-than-expected economic growth.The agency also said the country's outlook is stable, with goo Cuomo's office tightly controls public records 10/24/2014 11:32am • MICHAEL VIRTANEN Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo took office four years ago promising the most transparent administration in history, but journalists and advocacy groups say his office tightly controls requests for public records on anything controversial and routinely delays Enticing low rates, but impact could be limited 10/24/2014 05:40am • MARCY GORDON AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- With mortgage rates sliding for a fifth straight week, the possibility of locking in a rate below 4 percent is tempting for consumers and could unleash a wave of refinancing. It may even convince some Americans to buy their first home.Yet there are Just Listed in Arlington 10/24/2014 05:00am • Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.” Arlington saw only 48 new listings come on the market this week, ranging in price from $155,000 to $ Frugal Alternatives to Traditional Financing 10/24/2014 12:00am • After glancing at the topic of this post, you might be thinking, "Financing is never frugal!" And in a way, you'd be right. Because financing comes with interest, which is going to make your final cost more expensive than the original price. But you know what really isn't frugal? Credit card debt.