Home is where the tax breaks are - 2004-03-13
Boosted by the lowest mortgage interest rates in more than 40 years, home sales and refinanced loans hit a record pace last year. The bustling mortgage activity means more taxpayers must master the complex rules that help homeowners win big tax advantages.

"It's tax-favored in a number of different ways," said Bernard Kent, a personal financial services partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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Fannie Mae economist provides rosy outlook for 2004 - 2004-03-13
Fannie Mae economist David Berson provided a rosy outlook for the economy, with some qualifications, in an appearance before Southland business leaders Friday.

He said forecasts of a strong economy usually spur inflation and cause interest rates to rise, but that hasn't happened yet. Mortgage rates began rising in the second half of 2003 but have slipped back and "today they're very close to where they were last June. ... This is very unusual."
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