House prices to keep climbing - 2004-02-17
Homeowners need not worry of a sudden popping of the housing bubble, because prices in Australia's capital cities should keep climbing for another three years - but in a more restrained way - a housing industry forecaster said.

"I would suggest that there should not be fears that prices are suddenly going to weaken significantly," Mr Mellor said at the launch in Sydney of the PMI Residential Property Overview, produced by mortgage insurer PMI.
Read the full story at Melbourne Age

Profits are higher at B&B as mortgage lending climbs 70% - 2004-02-17
Mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley today posted a nine per cent rise in full-year profits - at the higher end of market forecasts - and said the financial year had started well.

The group, which provides a quarter of buy-to-let mortgages in the UK, said gross new lending soared 70 per cent to £9.9 billion as the housing market remained buoyant throughout the year.
Read the full story at Edinburgh Evening News