Low mortgage interest rates drive home-buying frenzy - 2004-04-02
In the last 24 hours, Quadrant Homes initiated building five houses -- a new high that shows King County residents are still snapping up homes.

But even Quadrant, the state's largest home builder, can't keep up. Thanks to mortgage rates, which remain at historic lows at or below 6 percent, Quadrant President Peter Orser said the company is currently selling about six houses a day.
Read the full story at King County Journal

Northern Rock Q1 sees profits expand 13% - 2004-04-02
UK mortgage bank Northern Rock indicated it is comfortable with the market consensus for 2004 pre-tax profits of around £430m (€645.6m), representing underlying growth of 13%.

In its first-quarter trading update, the group said it is starting the second quarter with a pipeline of agreed lending business of over £4.6bn (€6.9bn), which is 20% higher than at the start of the year.
Read the full story at Irish Examiner