Still hope for the first-home buyer - 2004-02-21
Last week, I looked at worries about the cooling property market. But another issue creating almost as much attention is the plight of first-home buyers.

Home affordability is at daunting levels. First-home mortgages rose more than 20 per cent in the past year or so.

The booming property market - which has jumped as much as 70 per cent in some areas in recent years - is an obvious contributor to this.
Read the full story at Courier Mail

The point is -- there are many kinds of "points" - 2004-02-21
Dear Steve:
What are "points" and how do they function?
-- Joe J.

Dear Joe:
Although the two often are used interchangeably, they are very different animals. Discount points are prepaid interest. Origination points represent money paid as compensation for preparing the loan and arranging financing -- usually to a mortgage broker.
Read the full story at Bankrate.com