BOISE - A record-low 5.10% 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate is now available through the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. The new rate is the lowest in the Association's history and is available now through any of IHFA's nearly 40 participating lenders, with 80 branches statewide.

Last year, IHFA helped 2,752 families purchase a home by providing below-market interest rates and generating a home ownership investment of $233 million for Idaho.

"Creating affordable opportunities for Idaho's first-time home buyer families is one of IHFA's primary goals," said IHFA's Vice President of Real Estate Lending Bob Reed. "We're proud to invest in the people of this state through home ownership. This record-low rate provides home ownership opportunities which might not otherwise have been available."

To participate in IHFA's mortgage loan program, home buyers must meet borrower requirements and income and sales price limits that vary by county. Since 1978, IHFA has financed nearly 50,000 loans-worth almost $3 billion-for affordable homes for Idaho's first-time and limited-income home buyers.

A current list of participating lenders and program qualifications can be found on IHFA's Web site at www.ihfa.org/residential_lenders.asp.