Variable home mortgage rates lifting - 2004-02-04
ASB Bank is the first home mortgage lender off the block to hike its variable interest rate. Barbara Chapman, head of retail banking and marketing says the variable home lending interest rate will go from 7.25% to 7.50% from March for existing loans and immediately for all new variable home loans.

The move has been widely anticipated since the Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised the markets by lifting its official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 5.25% at the end of January.
Read the full story at ONE News

Council agrees with apartment tenants - 2004-02-04
Residents of a 188-unit Otay Mesa apartment complex – whose owner would like to transform to condominiums – were given a reprieve by the San Diego City Council yesterday.

"They certainly could not afford $5,000 closing costs, or a $500 increase in mortgage or rent," she said. Bwy, who had hoped to begin the conversion within six months of receiving map approval, said through his representative, Chris Morrow, that he has followed all required notices for the conversion process.
Read the full story at SignOn San Diego