Fourth Quarter Total Existing-Home Sales Approach Record - 2004-02-12
Total existing-home sales, which include single-family, apartment condominium and co-operative sales, increased in 47 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with the same period in 2002, and were at the second-highest pace on record.

David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said housing remains a major component of economic growth. "Record levels of home sales – primarily due to historically low mortgage interest rates – have been contributing significantly to economic activity," he said.
Read the full story at REALTOR

Home loan feeding frenzy - 2004-02-12
Mortgage originators have taken more than 60% of the home loan business from banks – and expect to expand their market share to 75% before the end of the year.

That’s the estimate by a number of mortgage originators of the new service industry that has mushroomed in the last two years on the back of the country’s property sales boom.
Read the full story at MoneyWeb.co.za