Brown County, MN Mortgage Lenders & HMDA Data, 2008
In 2008, lenders reported 848 mortgage applications in Brown County, MN totaling $90.3 million, down 28% from 2007. The average application was for $106,000, and applicants reported an average income of $65,000. 59% of applications resulted in an originated loan and 17% were denied. The most active lender was Wells Fargo Bank, NA, with 164 applications, followed by Citizens Bank Minnesota and Alliance Bank.
Looking for lender-specific data?
Download a formatted spreadsheet with aggregated HMDA statistics
for all lenders based in Minnesota.
Whether you're an industry professional, homebuyer, or researcher, this data helps you stay informed
about local mortgage trends and lending activity.
| Years | 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 |
| Total Number of Mortgage Applications | 848 |
| Total Mortgage Loan Application Amount | $90,261,000 |
| Average Mortgage Loan Application Amount | $106,000 |
| Highest Mortgage Loan Application Amount | $1,300,000 |
| Average Applicant Income | $65,000 |
| Highest Applicant Income | $1,420,000 |
* Phone Numbers for Mortgage Lenders are available with a Data Download Report
| Mortgage Lender | Phone Number | Mortgage Lender Assets | Number of Mortgage Loan Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Bank, NA 1 HOME CAMPUS, 4TH FLOOR, MAC X2301-042 DES MOINES, IA 50328 |
* | $ 467,861,000,000 | 164 | $ 18,015,000 |
| Citizens Bank Minnesota 105 NORTH MINNESOTA STREET NEW ULM, MN 56073 |
* | $ 256,452,000 | 115 | $ 11,462,000 |
| Alliance Bank 105 EAST LYON AVE LAKE CITY, MN 55041 |
* | $ 640,573,000 | 107 | $ 9,082,000 |
| Frandsen Bank & Trust 116 CENTRAL STREET WEST LONSDALE, MN 55046 |
* | $ 278,143,000 | 85 | $ 7,522,000 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA 1111 POLARIS PARKWAY COLUMBUS, OH 43240 |
* | $ 1,318,888,000,000 | 25 | $ 3,159,000 |
| Wells Fargo Fin'l Minnesota 800 WALNUT ST, 6TH FLOOR, MAC F4031-061 DES MOINES, IA 50309 |
* | $ 36,752,895,000 | 23 | $ 2,045,000 |
| Embrace Home Loans, Inc. 25 ENTERPRISE CENTER MIDDLETOWN, RI 02842 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 20 | $ 2,567,000 |
| Countrywide Bank FSB 30930 RUSSELL RANCH ROAD MS CA6-916-02-0 WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362 |
* | $ 121,054,736,000 | 18 | $ 1,935,000 |
| Citifinancial Services Inc 300 ST PAUL PLACE BALTIMORE, MD 21202 |
* | $ 1,494,037,000,000 | 18 | $ 922,000 |
| Beneficial Company LLC 26525 NORTH RIVERWOODS BLVD. METTAWA, IL 60045 |
* | $ 4,017,643,000 | 14 | $ 1,436,000 |
| Citimortgage, Inc 601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10022 |
* | $ 1,019,497,000,000 | 12 | $ 1,376,000 |
| US Bank, N.A. 777 EAST WISCONSIN AVE MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 |
* | $ 232,759,503,000 | 11 | $ 1,297,000 |
| Equifirst Corporation 13000 S TRYON ST, STE F, PMB 317 CHARLOTTE, NC 28278 |
* | $ 343,735,670,000 | 11 | $ 1,817,000 |
| Hfc Company LLC 26525 NORTH RIVERWOODS BLVD. METTAWA, IL 60045 |
* | $ 15,000,000 | 11 | $ 1,320,000 |
| Associated Bank, N.A. 200 N ADAMS ST GREEN BAY, WI 54301 |
* | $ 21,335,735,000 | 10 | $ 1,588,000 |
| Gmac Mortgage LLC 1100 VIRGINIA DRIVE FT. WASHINGTON, PA 19034 |
* | $ 31,000,000 | 10 | $ 1,629,000 |
| Tcf National Bank 2508 LOUISE AVE S (002-01-P) SIOUX FALLS, SD 57106 |
* | $ 16,041,338,000 | 9 | $ 344,000 |
| Wells Fargo Funding, Inc 100 N MAIN STREEET MAC D4001-063 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27150 |
* | $ 25,457,000 | 9 | $ 1,167,000 |
| Americana Community Bank 300 MAIN STREET WEST SLEEPY EYE, MN 56085 |
* | $ 184,993,000 | 9 | $ 330,000 |
| Eloan 9600 WEST BRYN MAWR ROSEMONT, IL 60018 |
* | $ 48,624,000,000 | 8 | $ 894,000 |
| Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corporat 8800 NW 62ND AVE PO BOX 6220 JOHNSTON, IA 50131 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 8 | $ 1,206,000 |
| Compeer Financial 2600 JENNY WREN TRAIL SUN PRAIRIE, WI 53590 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 7 | $ 2,013,000 |
| Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union 175 WEST LAFAYETTE FRONTAGE ROAD SAINT PAUL, MN 55107 |
* | $ 1,222,682,000 | 6 | $ 472,000 |
| Amtrust Bank 1801 E. 9TH ST #200 CLEVELAND, OH 44114 |
* | $ 16,938,391,000 | 6 | $ 795,000 |
| Citicorp Trust Bank, FSB 601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10022 |
* | $ 18,878,056,000 | 6 | $ 807,000 |
| Freedom Mortgage Corp. 10500 KINCAID DR. STE. 300 FISHERS, IN 46037 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 6 | $ 529,000 |
| State Farm Bank 1 STATE FARM PLAZA BLOOMINGTON, IL 61710 |
* | $ 15,898,003,000 | 5 | $ 318,000 |
| PHH Mortgage Corporation WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409 |
* | $ 31,000,000 | 5 | $ 713,000 |
| M&I Bank FSB W57N14280 DOERR WAY CEDARBURG, WI 53012 |
* | $ 1,402,062,000 | 4 | $ 595,000 |
| Mortgage Network, Inc. 99 CONIFER HILL DR DANVERS, MA 01923 |
* | $ 3,700,000 | 4 | $ 460,000 |
| Quorum Federal Credit Union 2500 WESTCHESTER AVENUE PURCHASE, NY 10577 |
* | $ 560,167,000 | 4 | $ 356,000 |
| Nations Direct Mortgage, LLC 2475 VILLAGE VIEW DRIVE SUITE 100 HENDERSON, NV 89074 |
* | $ 11,000,000 | 3 | $ 367,000 |
| Mortgage It Inc 60 WALL ST NEW YORK, NY 10005 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 3 | $ 415,000 |
| Servion 500 MAIN STREET NEW BRIGHTON, MN 55112 |
* | $ 250,000,000 | 3 | $ 319,000 |
| Americanmtgnetwork dba Vertice TONYA YOUNG 100 N MAIN ST MAC D4001-063 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101 |
* | $ 473,000,000,000 | 3 | $ 755,000 |
| Suntrust Mortgage, Inc 901 SEMMES AVENUE RICHMOND, VA 23224 |
* | $ 175,107,526,000 | 3 | $ 396,000 |
| Capital One NA 11130 INDUSTRIALPLEX BLVD BATON ROUGE, LA 70809 |
* | $ 97,517,902,000 | 3 | $ 18,000 |
| Franklin American Mortgage Co 501 CORPORATE CENTRE DRIVE, SUITE 400 FRANKLIN, TN 37067 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 3 | $ 343,000 |
| Ideal Mortgage Bankers, Ltd 520 BROADHOLLOW ROAD MELVILLE, NY 11747 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 3 | $ 277,000 |
| Nationstar Mortgage 8950 CYPRESS WATERS BLVD. COPPELL, TX 75019 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 176,000 |
| Nationwide Advantage Mortgage 1100 LOCUST ST DES MOINES, IA 50391 |
* | $ 31,000,000 | 2 | $ 216,000 |
| Lakeland Mortgage Corporation 8300 NORMAN CENTER DRIVE SUITE 240 BLOOMINGTON, MN 55437 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 331,000 |
| Universal Mortgage Corporation 12080 NORTH CORPORATE PKWY SUITE 100 MEQUON, WI 53092 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 374,000 |
| American Equity Mortgage, Inc. 11933 WESTLINE INDUSTRIAL DRIVE SAINT LOUIS, MO 63146 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 283,000 |
| Bell America Mortgage LLC dba 1000 SHELARD PARKWAY SUITE 500 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55434 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 359,000 |
| US Bank North Dakota 777 EAST WISCONSIN AVE MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 |
* | $ 5,028,246,000 | 2 | $ 163,000 |
| Citibank, N.A. 601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10022 |
* | $ 1,251,715,000,000 | 2 | $ 127,000 |
| Beneficial Financial I, Inc. 26525 NORTH RIVERWOODS BLVD. METTAWA, IL 60045 |
* | $ 11,000,000 | 2 | $ 274,000 |
| Minnwest Mortgage Corporation 5324 EAST ARROWHEAD PKY, SUITE 102 SIOUX FALLS, SD 57110 |
* | $ 1,466,015,000 | 2 | $ 211,000 |
| First State Mortgage Services 502 N HERSHEY ROAD BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704 |
* | $ 327,995,000 | 2 | $ 149,000 |
| Centier Bank 600 E 84TH AVENUE MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410 |
* | $ 1,770,082,000 | 2 | $ 108,000 |
| First Residential Mortgage 9721 ORMSBY STATION RD. LOUISVILLE, KY 40223 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 2 | $ 223,000 |
| Merrill Lynch Credit Corp. 4804 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST BLDG 3 FL 5 JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246 |
* | $ 4,500,000,000 | 2 | $ 295,000 |
| Novation Credit Union 500 IMPERIAL AVE OAKDALE, MN 55128 |
* | $ 81,046,000 | 2 | $ 60,000 |
| USAA Federal Savings Bank 10750 MCDERMOTT FREEWAY SAN ANTONIO, TX 78288 |
* | $ 30,219,506,000 | 2 | $ 274,000 |
| Flagstar Bank 5151 CORPORATE DR TROY, MI 48098 |
* | $ 15,757,171,000 | 1 | $ 106,000 |
| Gateway Bank, FSB 2336 MERCED STREET SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577 |
* | $ 403,955,000 | 1 | $ 92,000 |
| Liberty Savings Bank FSB 111 7TH AVENUE SOUTH, P.O. BOX 40 ST. CLOUD, MN 56302 |
* | $ 130,084,000 | 1 | $ 348,000 |
| Home Loan Investment Bank ONE HOME LOAN PLAZA WARWICK, RI 02886 |
* | $ 266,672,000 | 1 | $ 196,000 |
| Wachovia Mortgage FSB TONYA YOUNG 100 N MAIN ST MAC D4001-063 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27101 |
* | $ 56,294,475,000 | 1 | $ 165,000 |
| Thrivent Financial Bank 122 EAST COLLEGE AVE., SUITE 1E APPLETON, WI 54911 |
* | $ 490,140,000 | 1 | $ 160,000 |
| Ing Bank, FSB 1 SOUTH ORANGE STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19801 |
* | $ 79,977,597,000 | 1 | $ 136,000 |
| Intouch Credit Union P O BOX 250169 PLANO, TX 75025 |
* | $ 562,730,000 | 1 | $ 85,000 |
| Building Trades Federal Credit Union 12080 73RD AVE N MAPLE GROVE, MN 55369 |
* | $ 101,991,000 | 1 | $ 18,000 |
| Mill City Credit Union 9999 WAYZATA BOULEVARD MINNETONKA, MN 55305 |
* | $ 217,025,000 | 1 | $ 177,000 |
| Wings Financial Credit Union 14985 GLAZIER AVENUE APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124 |
* | $ 1,837,312,000 | 1 | $ 90,000 |
| Trustone Financial Credit Union 14601 27TH AVENUE NORTH PLYMOUTH, MN 55447 |
* | $ 551,601,000 | 1 | $ 74,000 |
| New Day Financial, Llc. 360 SOUTH ROSEMARY AVENUE SUITE 1900 WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33401 |
* | $ 4,088,336,000 | 1 | $ 202,000 |
| Amerisave Mortgage Company 1200 ALTMORE AVENUE BUILDING 2 SUITE 300 SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30342 |
* | $ 8,994,122,000 | 1 | $ 80,000 |
| Bankers Mortgage Company, LLC 350 WEST BURNSVILLE PARKWAY, STE. 650 BURNSVILLE, MN 55337 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 90,000 |
| Marketplace Home Mortgage, LLC 7380 FRANCE AVE S, STE 200 EDINA, MN 55435 |
* | $ 11,000,000 | 1 | $ 60,000 |
| Sirva Mortgage, Inc. 6200 OAK TREE BLVD STE 300 SEVEN HILLS, OH 44131 |
* | $ 101,315,000 | 1 | $ 220,000 |
| Everett Financial Inc. 14801 QUORUM DR SUITE 300 DALLAS, TX 75254 |
* | $ 3,642,000 | 1 | $ 147,000 |
| Homestar Bank and Financial Services 3 DIVERSATECH DR MANTENO, IL 60950 |
* | $ 462,816,000 | 1 | $ 51,000 |
| Gateway Business Bank 18000 STUDEBAKER ROAD, SUITE 550 CERRITOS, CA 90703 |
* | $ 171,611,000 | 1 | $ 121,000 |
| Community Security Bank 1100 1ST STREET NE NEW PRAGUE, MN 56071 |
* | $ 115,645,000 | 1 | $ 394,000 |
| Northern Star Bank 1650 MADISON AVE MANKATO, MN 56001 |
* | $ 53,502,000 | 1 | $ 127,000 |
| Ally Bank F/K/A/ Gmac Bank 1100 VIRGINIA DRIVE FT. WASHINGTON, PA 19034 |
* | $ 28,404,352,000 | 1 | $ 96,000 |
| Midcountry Bank 2611 BLUE HERON DR. MARION, IL 62959 |
* | $ 1,027,186,000 | 1 | $ 97,000 |
| Branch Banking and Trust Co 223 W NASH STREET WILSON, NC 27893 |
* | $ 127,698,351,000 | 1 | $ 92,000 |
| Kleinbank 301 CHESTNUT ST CHASKA, MN 55318 |
* | $ 1,369,423,000 | 1 | $ 32,000 |
| First Tennessee Bank NA 165 MADISON 5TH FLOOR MEMPHIS, TN 38103 |
* | $ 36,725,591,000 | 1 | $ 173,000 |
| Wachovia Mortgage Corp 301 S COLLEGE ST CHARLOTTE, NC 28202 |
* | $ 2,687,938,000 | 1 | $ 98,000 |
| HSBC Mortgage Corp 2929 WALDEN AVE DEPEW, NY 14043 |
* | $ 92,958,000 | 1 | $ 310,000 |
| Capital One Home Loans, LLC 12800 FOSTER STREET OVERLAND PARK, KS 66213 |
* | $ 88,701,411,000 | 1 | $ 76,000 |
| River City Mortgage and Financ 5001 AMERICAN BLVD SUITE 1000 BLOOMINGTON, MN 55437 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 142,000 |
| Castle Point Mortgage, Inc. 7 ENTIN ROAD, STE. 102 PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054 |
* | $ 16,999,000 | 1 | $ 118,000 |
| Ctx Mortgage Company, LLC 1603 LBJ FREEWAY FL 6 DALLAS, TX 75234 |
* | $ 31,000,000 | 1 | $ 110,000 |
| Allied Home Mtg Capital Corp 6110 PINEMONT DR., STE. 215 HOUSTON, TX 77092 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 78,000 |
| Allied Home Mortgage Corp. 6110 PINEMONT DR., STE. 220 HOUSTON, TX 77092 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 168,000 |
| Taylor, Bean & Whitaker 315 NE 14TH STREET OCALA, FL 34470 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 157,000 |
| Homecomings Financial LLC 1100 VIRGINIA DRIVE FT. WASHINGTON, PA 19034 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 100,000 |
| Ifreedom Direct Corporation 124 N. CHARLES LINDBERGH DRIVE SLC, UT 84116 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 149,000 |
| Saxon Mortgage 4840 COX ROAD GLEN ALLEN, VA 23060 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 107,000 |
| Summit Mortgage Corporation 13355 10TH AVE N, #100 PLYMOUTH, MN 55441 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 136,000 |
| Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc. 1177 WEST LOOP SOUTH SUITE 200 HOUSTON, TX 77027 |
* | $ 57,509,481,000 | 1 | $ 92,000 |
| Security Atlantic Wholesale 499 THORNALL ST, SUITE 220 EDISON, NJ 08837 |
* | $ 10,000,000 | 1 | $ 107,000 |
The tables below break down 2008 mortgage applications in Brown County, MN by loan purpose, applicant race, loan type, outcome and denial reason. Click a column heading to sort.
Mortgage Loan Application Detail Totals for Brown County, MN in 2008
Loan Purpose |
Total Number of Mortgage Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications | Average Mortgage Loan Amount | Highest Mortgage Loan Amount | Average Applicant Income | Highest Applicant Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refinancing | 452 | $54,546,000 | $120,000 | $1,300,000 | $71,000 | $1,420,000 |
| Home Purchase | 297 | $30,896,000 | $104,000 | $700,000 | $59,000 | $514,000 |
| Home Improvement | 99 | $4,819,000 | $48,000 | $210,000 | $61,000 | $233,000 |
Applicant Race |
Total Number of Mortgage Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications | Average Mortgage Loan Amount | Highest Mortgage Loan Amount | Average Applicant Income | Highest Applicant Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 741 | $78,853,000 | $106,000 | $700,000 | $70,000 | $1,420,000 |
| Not Provided | 51 | $4,948,000 | $97,000 | $320,000 | $49,000 | $337,000 |
| Not applicable | 36 | $4,792,000 | $133,000 | $1,300,000 | $15,000 | $82,000 |
| Hispanic | 15 | $1,215,000 | $81,000 | $236,000 | $40,000 | $74,000 |
| Asian | 2 | $226,000 | $113,000 | $116,000 | $99,000 | $168,000 |
| Black or African American | 2 | $103,000 | $51,000 | $76,000 | $41,000 | $56,000 |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 1 | $124,000 | $124,000 | $124,000 | $59,000 | $59,000 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Loan Type |
Total Number of Mortgage Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications | Average Mortgage Loan Amount | Highest Mortgage Loan Amount | Average Applicant Income | Highest Applicant Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional (any loan other than FHA, VA, FSA, or RHS loans) | 681 | $69,601,000 | $102,000 | $700,000 | $70,000 | $1,420,000 |
| FHA-insured (Federal Housing Administration) | 138 | $17,871,000 | $129,000 | $1,300,000 | $52,000 | $117,000 |
| FSA/RHS (Farm Service Agency or Rural Housing Service) | 23 | $2,169,000 | $94,000 | $172,000 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| VA-guaranteed (Veterans Administration) | 6 | $620,000 | $103,000 | $173,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 |
Outcome |
Total Number of Mortgage Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications | Average Mortgage Loan Amount | Highest Mortgage Loan Amount | Average Applicant Income | Highest Applicant Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loan Originated | 499 | $50,574,000 | $101,000 | $465,000 | $68,000 | $1,420,000 |
| Application Denied By Financial Institution | 146 | $15,249,000 | $104,000 | $414,000 | $60,000 | $700,000 |
| Loan Purchased By The Institution | 70 | $9,729,000 | $138,000 | $1,300,000 | $49,000 | $579,000 |
| Application Withdrawn By Applicant | 62 | $7,930,000 | $127,000 | $700,000 | $80,000 | $514,000 |
| Application Approved But Not Accepted | 48 | $4,098,000 | $85,000 | $196,000 | $55,000 | $205,000 |
| File Closed For Incompleteness | 23 | $2,681,000 | $116,000 | $310,000 | $88,000 | $700,000 |
| Preapproval Approved but not Accepted | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Preapproval Denied by Financial Institution | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Denial Reason |
Total Number of Mortgage Applications | Total Dollar Amount of Mortgage Loan Applications | Average Mortgage Loan Amount | Highest Mortgage Loan Amount | Average Applicant Income | Highest Applicant Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collateral | 25 | $2,770,000 | $110,000 | $182,000 | $85,000 | $700,000 |
| Credit History | 23 | $1,691,000 | $73,000 | $319,000 | $51,000 | $150,000 |
| Debt-To-Income Ratio | 14 | $1,830,000 | $130,000 | $225,000 | $61,000 | $174,000 |
| Other | 8 | $916,000 | $114,000 | $167,000 | $54,000 | $90,000 |
| Credit Application Incomplete | 2 | $277,000 | $138,000 | $187,000 | $92,000 | $165,000 |
| Unverifiable Information | 1 | $130,000 | $130,000 | $130,000 | $28,000 | $28,000 |
| Employment History | 1 | $109,000 | $109,000 | $109,000 | $67,000 | $67,000 |
| Insufficient Cash (Downpayment, Closing Cost) | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mortgage Insurance Denied | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
About this data: figures come from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) loan application records that lenders file with the FFIEC each year, and count every application (approved, denied, withdrawn or purchased), not just closed loans. Applications reported at $100 million or more are left out of these totals.
Mortgage lenders & HMDA data by state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Puerto Rico · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Home · Mortgage lenders A–Z · Data downloads · Blog · About