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We are now heading toward the end of the spring homebuying season, and mortgage rates remain near record-low levels.

We are now officially in the peak spring home buying season. I was asked the other day for advice on what should be at the top of the list for homeowners after they move into their new home.

As we head into the spring home-buying season, the housing market is picking up steam, and mortgage rates are still near historic lows. Many homebuyers are wondering where mortgage rates are heading this year, as they consider purchasing a home.

A great refinance program is available for homeowners with an existing FHA mortgage. It’s from the Federal Housing Administration, and it’s called the FHA Streamline Refinance program. It’s a fast and simple way to refinance and take advantage of today’s record-low interest rates.

The FHA was established in part to insure mortgages under certain criteria so that banks would start lending again. This enabled a larger pool of people to afford a down payment and make the monthly payments on their home, which played a significant role in the recovery of the U.S. housing market.

Mortgage rates have been on a ride over the past year, and the ride has been heading mostly downhill. Rates ticked up a bit over the past two months, but have now dropped again to set a new record low.

Many homeowners are enjoying the opportunity to refinance their mortgage to today’s historically low interest rates. If you have not explored whether it makes sense to refinance your home, now is the time to see if you can significantly lower your monthly mortgage payment. We are experiencing the lowest mortgage rates on record.

Over the past few years, President Barack Obama and Congress have enacted laws to enable “underwater” homeowners to refinance to today’s historically low mortgage rates. But it’s a safe bet that many homeowners who qualify aren’t even aware of it.

Tom Reddin
Tom Reddin, former president of Charlotte-based LendingTree, writes about mortgages and home ownership. He runs Red Dog Ventures, a venture capital and advisory firm for early stage digital companies.

Read his blog