U.S. mortgage rates could fall below 5.5 pct-Freddie - 2004-03-09
Average interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages could soon drop below 5.5 percent, after a big rally in U.S. Treasuries driven by weak U.S. job growth, Freddie Mac said on Tuesday.

If 30-year mortgage rates slip under 5.5 percent, they would be at their lowest levels since July 2003 during the height of last year's refinancing boom, and could reignite a wave a refinancing activity.
Read the full story at Reuters

Mortgage affordability begins to decrease - 2004-03-09
Making mortgage repayments is becoming more of a squeeze but the amount of income people in Britain spend on their mortgage is still historically low, according to a report published by lender Cheltenham & Gloucester today.

On average, British joint income households spend £17.60 out of every £100 they earn on mortgage payments, compared with £27.70 in 1991, but up from a bargain £12.60 in 1996.
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited