Record-low rates below 4 percent could lure homeowners loans, but few can or will take advantage

WASHINGTON — Never have average rates on long-term fixed mortgages been as low as they are now: 3.91 percent for a 30-year home loan and 3.21 for a 15-year loan.

The new lows mark the eighth straight week in which the average on the 30-year cheapest homeowner loans has hovered near 4 percent.

In many cases, people whose home values have dropped aren’t eligible. Shrunken home values have reduced the total equity Americans have in their homes to under 40 percent — the lowest since the Great Depression. As a result, many people lack enough equity to qualify for refinancing. Or their credit scores aren’t high enough.

Another obstacle: Refinancers typically must pay thousands in closing costs and appraisal fees. Those costs usually add up to 1 percent of the loan’s value — $2,000 in fees on a $200,000 loan, for example. Typically, most experts say, it’s worthwhile for homeowners to refinance if they can reduce their rate by a full percentage point.

Cheapest homeowner loans are easily available for all