Rates on 30-year mortgages inched upward this week but remain near the lowest level in decades, allowing borrowers with strong credit and stable jobs to save money if they refinance.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.87 percent this week, up from 4.78 percent last week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. That was the lowest in the history of the survey, which dates back to 1971.
Low rates have sparked a surge in refinancing activity, with nearly 80 percent of new home loan applications coming from borrowers seeking to refinance. Freddie Mac's sibling company, Fannie Mae, refinanced $77 billion in loans last month, nearly double February's volume.
"The main message we want to send today is there are 7 to 9 million people across the country who right now could be taking advantage of lower mortgage rates," Obama said in a photo opportunity in the Roosevelt Room. "That is money in their pocket."
Last month, the Obama administration unveiled a new plan to provide $75 billion in incentives for the mortgage industry to modify loans to help borrowers avoid foreclosure.
On Thursday, the president encouraged people to take advantage of a government Web site - http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov - to see how they can get help.
Obama also warned people to watch out for scam artists, days after his administration
"If somebody is asking you for money up front before they help you with your refinancing," he said, "it's probably a scam."
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AP Business Writer Alan Zibel reported from New York.
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