Scots lose out on home help - 2004-03-27
The government last week unveiled a £690 million initiative to assist key workers get a footing on the housing ladder. Yet not a penny will be spent in Scotland, despite soaring property prices.

Parents are increasingly helping their offspring get a start by giving them a deposit for a home. But where cash of this kind is not available, parents can guarantee mortgages. Most commonly, the purchaser’s income is ignored, and the loan is based on the parents’ ability to pay .
Read the full story at Sunday Herald

Bidding Wars Return to N.Y. Real Estate - 2004-03-27
Attorney Stuart Kaplan has his feet to the fire, attempting to close on a $10 million Fifth Avenue condo for his client before a war breaks out.

New York residential real estate is hot again, experts say. A combination of low mortgage rates, tight supply, strong foreign buying power and the return of bonuses on Wall Street have helped create a frenzied market of ever-higher prices.
Read the full story at IWon - Money