7 smart moves while rates are low

7 smart moves while rates are low

There's not much room for interest rates to go lower, and making the right moves now could potentially save you big money.

 

1. Buy a home or rental property

Rates on long-term fixed-rate mortgages are at their lowest in decades. If you have been putting off your decision to buy a house, now may be the "perfect storm" of low interest rates and low home prices.

Since rates are so low, consider getting a 15-yearinstead of the traditional 30-year mortgage. "The amount you will save in interest payments over the life of the loan is enormous," says Scott Stratton, the author of "Your Last Five Years: Making the Transition from Work to Retirement."

If you already own a home and have some money stashed away for a down payment, now may be a good time to think about buying real estate for passive income, says Greg McFarlane, the author of "Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense."

Not only are mortgage rates and property values low, but the rash in foreclosures means more people are in need of shelter. "They're called renters, and they're your cash cows," says McFarlane. Not only will you get regular income from renting property, but as a landlord you can take tax breaks in the form of mortgage interest deductions. (Figure out how much house you can afford with MSN Money's calculator.)