Mortgage levels rose toward the end of the year, but in general 2001 was a terrific time to buy or refinance real estate.

For much of the year, 30-year fixed rate mortgages were available at 7 percent or below. Start rates for adjustable-rate financing fell below 5.5 percent. Given such rates, it's little wonder that home sales were at near-record levels in 2001 and also that refinancing volume was strong.

In fact, 2001 was such a good year for mortgages that in some cases people "re-refinanced" -- they refinanced, and then did it again later in the year.

Third Of Suburbs Lose Population

We usually think of suburbs as continually growing, but a new report from the Brookings Institution shows that many are actually losing residents.

Written by William Lucy and David Phillips, professors of urban planning at the University of Virginia, "Suburbs and the Census: Patterns of Growth and Decline" shows that among 2,600 suburbs in 35 major metropolitan areas, 63 percent saw growing populations -- but 37 percent experienced declines.

The study showed that population growth is closely tied to local economics. The five metro areas with the least growth were also the five metro areas with the highest percentages of declining suburbs.

According to the report, nearly one-third of suburbs with populations of less than 10,000 lost population during the 1990's. By contrast, only 18.4 percent of large suburbs declined.

The Popcorn Report 2002

Trend forecaster and marketing futurist Faith Popcorn of BrainReserve has announced her top predictions for 2002.

Ms. Popcorn suggests that more and more of us want "armored cocoons," what Popcorn describes as a safe and secure environment with "top notch security systems, filtered air, filtered water, and anything else that makes a consumer feel protected from the dangers of the outside world."

While it may not be good for the waistline, Popcorn says more of us will become "glutinous gourmets" with a "compulsive desire to eat expensive, gourmet-style food in inordinate quantities."

Also, says Popcorn, people will seek more entertainment, more of the time. Popcorn says that consumers will have a need for "constant entertainment from every device, including computers, DVD's, PDA's, cell phones, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), whether they are in the car, on the street, or in the elevator."

Have You Had A Paperwork Round-Up?

Let's face it, no one loves paperwork. But with the year just starting, now is the time flag the paperwork you'll need later in the year and for your important files.

For instance, those reports that you'll soon get in the mail showing interest payments, dividends, and such should be saved for tax purposes. And if you bought or sold a home in 2001, or if you refinanced, you'll need the papers for tax purposes and also for estates.