Property values: Thailand to impose limit on mortgages - 2003-11-29
The Thai central bank intends to impose a limit on mortgage lending for homes costing more than 10 million baht, or $250,000, to keep bad loans under control.

Banks will be restricted to mortgages of no more than 70 percent of the price, the governor of the central bank, Pridiyathorn Devakula, said on Thursday in a speech at a seminar in Bangkok.
The central bank wants home buyers to spend within their means
Read the full story at IHT

The disappearing house auction - 2003-11-29
Anxious homeowners are selling their homes before going to auction, rather than risk losing out as Melbourne's residential property clearance rates yesterday dropped for the fourth consecutive week.

Home owners are also factoring in another rise in interest rates. Economists said it was highly likely - about an 80 per cent chance - that the Reserve Bank would follow up on last month's rate increase and lift Australia's cash rate a further 0.25 percentage points to 5.25 per cent when it meets on Tuesday. This would add an average $25 a month to mortgage repayments.
Read the full story at Melbourne Age