Chamber plans event at Commerce Bank

BRICK: The Chamber of Commerce will host a Business After Hours at Commerce Bank, 1049 Cedar Bridge Ave. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Business After Hours events offer opportunities to network in a relaxed setting.

Entry is free for chamber members who bring a nonmember. Attendees should bring business cards. A resource table will be available for members' promotional materials.

Reservations can be made by calling the chamber at (732) 477-4949. The event costs $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.