Mortgage Refinancings Up Despite Higher Rates - 2004-02-25
The number of Americans applying for a home loan grew last week even as borrowing costs climbed slightly from seven-month lows, and some economists believe activity could pick up going forward.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its market index, a measure of weekly mortgage activity, rose 2.1 percent to 854.5 in the week ended Feb. 20.
Read the full story at Reuters

First-time home buyers pushed out by property investors - 2004-02-25
The increasing popularity of the buy-to-let market is adding to first-time buyers' already considerable difficulties, according to a survey released today by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The findings confirm figures posted earlier this month by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which said that the number of specialist landlord mortgages had risen by 48% during 2003.
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited