RARE OPPORTUNITY: Homeowners can now lock in a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage at a rate of less than 4 percent, the lowest in decades.
RATES FALL: The average rate on the 15-year fixed loan dropped to 3.95 percent last week, according to mortgage company Freddie Mac. That%27s the lowest on records the company has kept since 1991.
PAYING OFF YOUR HOME: For those who can qualify, it%27s the chance to pay off a home in half the time and save money. But most people can%27t afford the higher monthly payments required by a 15-year fixed mortgage compared with a more traditional 30-year loan.