Home equity shouldn't be tapped into recklessly - 2005-02-28
The primary residence has become the new piggy bank. Americans drew $333 billion out of their homes between 2001 and 2003, according to a paper recently published by the public advocacy group Demos -- levels three times higher than during any other three-year period since 1993.

On paper, it often looks like a smart financial move. Mortgage interest rates remain low. Property values keep rising, giving owners a crack at even more cash.
So why not acces some of that low-interest home equity to pay off high-interest credit card bills or medical expenses?
Read the full story at Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel

Buffalo-Niagara Falls Rated Most Affordable Major U.S. Housing Market - 2005-02-28
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y. is the nation’s most affordable housing market among major metropolitan areas with populations surpassing one million, according to the newly released National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) for the fourth quarter of 2004.

Among smaller markets, Lima, Ohio ranked tops for metros with fewer than 250,000 people, while Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, Mich., was the most affordable midsized market with 250,000 to just under one million people.
Read the full story at RisMedia.com