The big upside is, of course, the mortgage interest deduction. Uncle Sam takes a lot less of your hard-earned money when you're paying large amounts of interest.

The downside is getting pre-approved loan checks regularly in the mail. Today I received a check/loan for $1,023.55 (how they came up with that not-round figure I'll never know) from Wells Fargo. I've hated Wells Fargo ever since they decided to sell all of their branches in Western Washington and *poof* leave me requesting to close my account by mail. I received no advance notice of the pull-out. Just went to deposit a check one day, and the branch was just closed.

Anyway, so today I get this "check," which is really a high-interest rate loan (17.99%), that I never asked for. The mailboxes at my condo complex are locked, but what if someone managed to steal this check and cash it? I know I wouldn't be liable for the money, but I'm sure it would cost me time and effort to clear up the whole mess.

They obviously make money off these things, or they wouldn't do it. But this sort of thing just chaps my hide.

Remember: Wells Fargo = EVIL.