Timing not good for bill allowing Private Mortgage Insurance deductibility - 2004-02-15
To deduct or not to deduct? Congress is about to deal with that question for an estimated 12 million-plus American homeowners who pay either FHA or private mortgage insurance premiums each month.

With a bipartisan list of 161 co-sponsors in the House, a companion bill in the Senate and strong support from a diverse political coalition of business, labor and public-interest organizations.
Read the full story at Herald Tribune

Single-family home sales increase steadily - 2004-02-15
That loud explosion you heard during 2003 likely came from local real estate offices. Also fueling last year's buying binge were low mortgage interest rates.

"They start as low as 1.25 percent . . . lowest I've ever seen," said Clay Heitler, owner of Affordable Home Mortgage Inc., which does business in Hernando and Pasco counties. "These low rates are keeping people buying houses and spending more money than they can usually afford."
Read the full story at St. Petersburg Times