US mortgage delinquencies, foreclosures down in '04 - 2005-03-17
U.S. residential mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures nudged down in the fourth quarter of 2004 from the same quarter a year earlier, a mortgage industry group indicated on Thursday.

The mortgage delinquency rate was 4.23 percent at the end of the fourth quarter, 4.49 percent lower at the end of the fourth quarter of 2003 and down from 4.41 percent at the end of the third quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.
Read the full story at Reuters

Mortgage rates hit new seven-month high - 2005-03-17
Rates on 30-year mortgages went up this week to their highest level in seven months, a trend that is expected to slow — but not stifle — the nation’s housing market.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac, in its weekly survey of mortgage rates around the country, revealed Thursday that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.95 percent for the week ending March 17.
Read the full story at MSNBC