RATES

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well, according to Freddie, the giant government-controlled buyer and guarantor of home loans.

Payments on a $400,000 mortgage — not a monstrous sum at California’s still-high home prices — would be $1,949.07 a month at the survey’s all-time low of 4.17%, set four weeks ago. At today’s typical offering rate of 4.61%, the payment would be $2,052.97.

Would-be buyers and refinancers can run their own payment scenarios using online amortization calculators like the ones at Bankrate.com, HSH.com or other data suppliers.