[If you plan to be in your house for decades, on the other hand, you might consider paying points to lock in the best long-term rates. Points, which cost one-half of a percent to 1 percent of the loan and are paid up front, let you buy a better interest rate. ] If you pay points up front, it's harder to get your money back, ... When rates are high, borrowers have to pay points to trim rates any way they can, but with rates so low there is really no need to pay those points. Keith Gumbinger