Demand for business loans increasing - 2004-02-04
Banks reported a jump in demand for business loans for the first time in four years as companies became more confident in the expanding economy, according to a Federal Reserve report.

Demand for commercial real estate loans in the past three months also increased for the first time since 2000, while home mortgage loans cooled, according to the January survey of senior loan officers at 56 domestic and 21 foreign banks.
Read the full story at SignOn San Diego

''Smart Commute'' Program Provides Added Mortgage Benefits to Home Buyers on Atlanta's Transit Routes - 2004-02-04
Citing the Washington-based Surface Transportation Policy Project's data that the average Atlanta household disburses about $8,500 a year in car-related costs.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution applauds the ''Smart Commute'' pilot program, just introduced in the area by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) as its 17th nationwide, as an example of ''smart growth'' and one of the ''creative, thoughtful solutions'' needed to reduce the region's traffic congestion and air pollution, and to increase home ownership.
Read the full story at Smart Growth Online