First home buyers feel pushed out of market - 2004-03-28
Australia's first home buyers continue to feel pushed out of the property market but many are open to having their parents assist them financially, according to a new survey.

While 53 per cent expressed their concern about being able to afford the mortgage repayments, 50 per cent said the payment of stamp duty and mortgage registration fees was also a major barrier.
Read the full story at The Age

Washington Mutual keeps expanding - 2004-03-28
When Washington Mutual bought Dime Savings Bank, it got Dime's mortgage servicing center in Albion and promised to significantly expand the work force in time.

Now, two years later, the Seattle-based bank has proven to be better than its word. By April, employment will have nearly doubled since 2002 to 700 and is still growing at the rate of 75 new employees a month.
Read the full story at Buffalo Business Journal