California's real estate costs doesn't discourage buyers - 2004-01-24
Sales of homes in California jumped in December, pushing the statewide median price of houses and condos to $335,000, a new record, an analyst said Friday.

The typical mortgage payment that home buyers committed themselves to paying last month was $1,497, up from $1,293 for December 2002.
Read the full story at Daily Breeze

Mortgage company's troubles persists - 2004-01-24
Turmoil is continuing at financially challenged Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. as Ernst & Young LLP resigned as independent auditor and the president of an Idaho subsidiary was dismissed.

Ernst & Young also withdrew its reports for the years ending Sept. 30, 2002, and Sept. 30, 2001, and for each of the three quarters in the nine-month period that ended last June 30, Met Mortgage said Thursday in a press release.
Read the full story at HeraldNet