Home sales have remained surprisingly strong despite higher interest rates.

Housing is as strong as ever, and the mortgage business is as good as ever.

So far, the refunding has been a mixed bag. The three-year saw little foreign interest and had a low bid-to-cover, but the 10-year went a little better yesterday.

Studies on interest rates charged by the Mafia in New York City in the 1960s found an average rate of 250 percent. So, payday lenders in Utah charge more than twice as much as the Mafia loan syndicates. It shows it has gotten out of hand.

We already have tremendous interest in Grand Arbors, and 2005 sales in The Estates caused a buzz. Those who have not been paying attention to Immokalee Road may have missed out.

Sales fell last month compared with December 2004's record-setting pace, prompted by consumers' concerns about rising interest rates.