(MONEY Magazine) – Sniff out bargains in government-repossessed homes by phoning the Resolution Trust Corporation (800-782-3006), which controls 19,000 single-family houses and condos; or get in touch with your local Department of Housing and Urban Development field office, which can guide you to 40,000 such homes. Page 82. -- Reduce risk by diversifying your equity holdings among mutual funds with different investment styles and rechecking your allocations at least once a year. A wise portfolio now: put up to 30% in value funds, 25% in small-company funds, 20% in big-company growth funds, 15% in growth and income funds and 10% in international funds. Page 154. -- Keep a vigilant eye on the status of your tax-exempt bonds. Many that were issued in the early '80s are now being redeemed early to take advantage of today's low interest rates. If you don't learn about the redemptions ahead of time by checking with the paying agent or Standard & Poor's Semiweekly Called Bond Record, you could lose six months of interest. Page 69. -- Stay put with your Blue Cross/Blue Shield, even if it's one of the few in financial trouble. Should yours fail, your employer or even your state may cover unpaid medical bills. And the Blues are often the best buy in the field. Page 27.