2004 home sales could beat record '03 - 2004-02-10
Freddie Mac, the biggest U.S. mortgage financier after Fannie Mae, indicated home sales this year might surpass the record set in 2003, helped by rising employment and low interest rates.

Housing sales will benefit as slow inflation keeps the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage at an average of 5.75 percent, below the 5.8 percent average in 2003, Nothaft said.
Read the full story at Miami Herald

California Firm Unveils Rankings for Areas At Risk for House Prices to Drop - 2004-02-10
Perhaps it's better to be at the bottom. That's particularly true when you're at the bottom of the list of metropolitan areas at risk for the price of houses to decline.

PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. in Walnut Creek released its latest at-risk rankings for the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas on Feb. 4.

For the nation overall, the news wasn't good; average risk index rose 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Read the full story at Miami Herald