Mortgage giant Fannie Mae says Greenspan fails to appreciate its role - 2004-02-24
Fannie Mae said on Tuesday Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan failed to understand the role the mortgage financing giant plays in making mortgage funds accessible across the United States.

Fannie Mae was responding to testimony Greenspan delivered to the Senate Banking Committee, in which he warned of the potential for problems in the financial system unless the rapid growth in Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's debt and assets were reined in.
Read the full story at Reuters

First-time house purchasing '33% less affordable' - 2004-02-24
Getting a foot on the property ladder is now 33% less affordable than it was 10 years ago, and if house prices and interest rates rise as forecasted, this figure will climb to 46% by the end of the year, according to research released today.

According to these measurements, mortgage payments have become more affordable in recent years due to falling interest rates, and this has helped offset rising house prices.
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited