Many drawn by joys of being a landlord - 2004-12-25
Real estate looks quite tempting as an investment these days. And that is prompting more Americans to consider joining the ranks of landlords.

Individuals, rather than corporations, own approximately 60 percent of all rental units, according to the last count by the Federal Reserve. "Evidence points to an increase in real estate purchases by individual investors," said Doug Duncan, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Read the full story at Houston Chronicle

Jeff Brown: Time to leave your ARM, switch to low fixed rate - 2004-12-25
Here's a worrying number: Of all the mortgage applications Americans filed during the first full week in December, more than a third were for loans with adjustable rates.

That's been the situation this year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, whose polls cover about half the mortgages issued in the United States.
Read the full story at Omaha World-Herald