Canadian Demand for Homes Is Holding Up - 2004-02-05
Canadian demand for homes continues to be near a record, showing consumers are spending the way Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge wants them to and powering the world's eighth-largest economy while exports falter.

Contractors took out permits for home construction worth a record C$2.95 billion ($2.2 billion) in December, Statistics Canada said today. Ottawa-based Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp., the government's housing agency, predicted builders will put up 203,900 residences this year.
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MBA and Federal Home Loan Bank Officials Convene at the CREF/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo - 2004-02-05
MBA officers welcomed the chance to meet yesterday with senior officials from the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks), the Office of Finance and the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks to create strategies for our organizations to work together to further enhance the mortgage finance marketplace.

The FHLBanks play an important role in the secondary market, particularly through their mortgage acquisition programs.
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