$1 Trillion Target for Home Loans Firm Helps Minorities, Poor - 2005-01-18
Countrywide Home Loans Inc. on Friday boosted its minority and low-income borrower lending goal to $1 trillion over the next five years.

Brian Faith, spokesman for Fannie Mae, the federally chartered institution that acquires mortgages from lenders and sells them to investors, said Countrywide's announcement is good news.
Read the full story at Builder Online

Canadian home resales up sixth year in a row - 2005-01-18
Sales of existing homes across Canada touched a record high in 2004, according to year end results released Monday, while the number of listings for sale also climbed.

At the start of the year, however, the consensus among market watchers was for 2004 to ease off from the highs seen in 2003. For 2005, analysts are again expecting a slowdown as supply catches up with demand and the impact of two interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada last fall drive up mortgage costs.
Read the full story at Ottawa Business Journal