According to Freddie Mac, mortgage interest rates are still hovering at all-time lows, signaling that the COVID-impacted economy is still struggling.  With interest rates well under three percent, it’s an ideal time to buy or refinance a home. Can you get an even better rate by paying points?

When you’re quoted a rate like 2.73%, it may only be available if you pay points, such as .07%. Points are also known as discount points, a fee that’s paid directly to the lender at closing to reduce the interest rate on your loan. Explains BankofAmerica.com, one point costs 1% of your mortgage amount or $1,000 for every $100,000. Essentially, you’re prepaying some of the interest to get a lower rate.

The longer you plan to stay in your home, the more likely it is that you’ll “break even” or recoup the cost of buying points. Divide the cost of the points by how much you save on your monthly payment. Let’s say you buy two points for $4,000. The monthly savings to you is $58.54, so it will take you 68 months, or 5.67 years, to break even. If you’re planning to stay in your home a shorter time than that, buying points isn’t a good deal, and it may not be a good deal even if you plan to stay years longer.

That $4,000 could be better spent toward your down payment, especially if you’re paying mortgage insurance. Your lender can help advise you which is best.

According to Gilmour.com, weeds “compete with grass and garden plants for space, light, water and soil nutrients.” They germinate quickly and can carry diseases and insects that hurt your plants. Here are six ways to prevent weeds in your lawn and garden:

Apply pre-emergent weed killer. Pre-emergent target specific weeds and their families. They’re activated with water, so be generous and soak your garden and lawn to prevent weed germination.

Use a weed barrier. Weed barriers work best in vegetable gardens where they can be rolled up and reused after harvest. Just roll the weed cloth over your garden area, cutting holes out for plants you want to keep. Shape the edges of the cloth to your garden, and then cover it with mulch, bark or gravel.

Mow your lawn correctly. Scalping weakens the integrity and defense system of your grass. That allows weeds to come in and take over. Set your lawnmower’s blade height to a level that cuts only the top third of your grass’s growth.  

Aerate your lawn. Aerating is a simple process where you punch holes in heavily trafficked soil to alleviate congestion and allow for better air and water flow. This helps with weeds like crabgrass, chickweed and plantain.

Keep your yard weeded. Pluck weeds out of the ground as soon as you spot them, preferably before they come to seed.  Remove the entire root ball, reminds mahalo.com, as doing so ensures that the weed will not be able to reproduce.