With the recent (and ongoing) meltdown in the U.S. housing market, many people are wondering if real estate lending is still in existence. Well, put your fears to rest. Lenders are still providing funds for home purchases and refinancing existing mortgages. The risky lending practices of the last five to ten years have necessarily been curtailed (unfortunately, it seems that the chickens have already come home to roost, as it were). However, lenders must still lend in order to remain in business, and financing can still be obtained. Of course, if your credit isn't quite as strong as you'd like, in honesty you're going to have a tougher go of it. But that's certainly no reason to throw in the towel before you even start.

If you're looking to refinance your home in order to consolidate your debts, you may find that you'll have to put the cart before the horse and consolidate before you'll be able to qualify with a skittish mortgage lender. If that's the case, don't panic; all is not lost. There are other things you can do, other ways to consolidate your debt and get it under control. Some great advice from MSN Moneycentral should point you in the right direction.