Would-be investors on sidelines - 2004-01-30
More than 100,000 Australians - hit by two interest rate hikes late last year - have abandoned plans to buy an investment property this year, according to a survey.

Mortgage broker Mortgage Choice bucked the trend. National corporate affairs manager Warren O'Rourke says that despite the two rate hikes, interest in buying property remains buoyant.
Read the full story at news.com.au

Helping hand for first-timer home buyers - 2004-01-30
Britain's property price boom has left a generation of first-time buyers hurrying to get a foot on the ladder. But now lenders are giving borrowers a helping hand.

Mortgage Express has become the latest company to change its own lending rules to allow first-time buyers to take on bigger loans. Northern Rock bank quietly took a similar decision last month.
Read the full story at This Is Money