January's snow blamed for decrease in home sales - 2004-03-10
Snohomish County house and condominium sales decreased to 786 in February, far less than the 979 sales during the same month last year.

The 19.7 percent decline came despite plenty of listings — 1,752 last month, eight more than in February 2003 — and the continued availability of mortgage loans with interest rates below 6 percent.
Read the full story at Seattle Times

Consumers take chance with adjustable-rate mortgages - 2004-03-10
The summer of 2003 demonstrated to would-be home buyers and borrowers how quickly things could change.

In less than two months, the average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages jumped well over a percentage point to as high as 6.4% -- a stunning leap that caught lenders and borrowers alike off guard.
Read the full story at CNBC