Looking for a mortgage? Don't push too hard or you'll be blacklisted - 2004-01-11
Paul Arley thought he was being a responsible consumer by looking around for his mortgage. Yet instead of getting the best interest rate available, he found himself labelled a credit liability and was rejected by every lender he approached.

'It was a nightmare,' Arley said. 'I was left with the choice of having to go to a special company that deals with high-risk cases, for two-and-a-half-times above the going rate, or putting off buying a house for a year or more.'
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited

Banks offer buyers fixed-rate mortgages - 2004-01-11
Low interest rates and a liquidity laden banking system are encouraging more lenders to offer what they call fixed-rate mortgage products in an attempt to lure home-buyers who expect an improving economy to push up interest rates.

With residential prices expected to rise by 10 per cent this year, the banks are hoping that the mortgages will stimulate lending further and thus allow them to make use of deposits that have been left idle by poor loan demand.
Read the full story at The Standard