It’s just not really that easy for someone raised in today’s society to view “good debt” as anything but debt, and consequently something to be avoided. For that reason, rewiring your thinking to view what is traditionally seen as “good debt” as an “investment” can help substantially improve matters for you.

That said, you might still be wary of investments in this market. Everyone knows the stock market isn’t in the best of shape, and most other funds seem to be crumbling as well. So, what to do? Why not take out a loan? If this sounds contrary to reason, you’re still not thinking of the ways in which debt can be an investment.

When you take out a loan, the nature of the debt depends on what you spend the money on. Simply put, if you spend the money on something that will depreciate in value, such as a new car or a new computer, it’s debt. If, on the other hand, you spend that money on something that will appreciate in value, something that you could potentially resell later at a higher value (or use as collateral to improve credit), it’s an investment.

Buying one’s one home is one of the best investments that one can make, and luckily, right now is one of the most opportune times in the last few decades to make just such a purchase. Mortgages across the country are seeing all time low interest rates, and besides that, there are many tax credits being offered to first time home buyers that you stand to take advantage of if you strike now.

Ever wish you could have gotten in on the ground floor of a stock that was certain to skyrocket later on? Buying a house in today’s market is kind of like doing exactly that. At present, the nationwide average interest rate on a standard mortgage of 30 years with a fixed rate, sits at just 5.28 percent. This is the result of steady decreases over the last several years, and approaches an all-time low.

Thinking of relocating? Now’s as good a time as any for that as well, because interest rates can even dip below the already low national average as you move from state to state. For instance, Pennsylvania is currently sitting a few points below the national average, while Georgia offers one of the best opportunities in the country for a low 5.14 percent interest rate.

Managing your finances in this environment can be quite an ordeal, especially if you’re trying to rebuild your credit and savings by establishing “good debt”. However, even in the midst of the recession, there’s one market to be taken advantage of yet, and if you strike now, the benefits can change your life forever.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is used as a benchmark for evaluations, has fallen by 12 basis points, reducing them to 5.8%. This information comes from a national survey taken of the largest lenders. Basis points are calculated as being one-hundredth of a percentage.

Another benchmark, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, has managed to fall a total of 16 basis points, reducing their rates to around 5.51 percent.

The number of applications for mortgages continues to fluctuate. Depending on how you count the figures, the number of applications has managed to either go up or down in the past month. Factors such as the Thanksgiving holiday have to be considered; the effect that day has had on the lives of people applying for mortgages is particularly pronounced. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the raw number of applications for mortgages rose by roughly 33%.

Bob Walters, Quicken Loan’s chief economist, has mentioned his thoughts on this subject. He believes that the recent drop in mortgage rates has proven to be a huge incentive for consumers looking to refinance and obtain a fixed-rate loan. He also feels that those who are looking to enter the market in order to purchase a home have an outstanding opportunity to acquire a cheap investment.

It does seem like borrowers are looking for more security than ever before. Only 1.1% of all applicants for a home mortgage were asking for adjustable-rates in recent history. Those that already have adjustable mortgages are trying to refinance into loans with fixed-rates as well, in order to obtain the certainty they desire when it comes to making monthly loan payments.