US economy growing faster - 2005-01-31
The United States is showing evidence of faster economic growth, according to reports released yesterday on the Midwest and New York City economies and US personal income.

Home sales have been the star performer of the US economic expansion, helped by relatively low mortgage rates that have enabled home buyers to take out bigger loans.
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Court tosses Oakland's predatory lending law - 2005-01-31
The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that an Oakland city ordinance stopping predatory lending practices is pre-empted by state law. It was a 4-3 decision.

The court noted that it's most likely to happen in the rapidly growing "subprime" mortgage market, which is a market generally providing access to borrowers with impaired credit, limited income, or high debt relative to their income.
Read the full story at BizJournals