Mortgage interest rates inched closer to 2004's lowest rate in an about face of the anticipatory rate increases that often precede federal benchmark rate hikes.

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.7 percent for the week ending Sept. 23, down from last week's 5.75 percent rate. This year's low on March 18 was 5.38 percent.

On. Sept. 21, the Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 percent and the Fed's Board of Governors approved a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate, pushing it to 2.75 percent.

In the weeks leading up to the Fed's move, rates had been falling, reversing a rising-rate trend that often precedes a federal rate hike.

Economists are sticking to forecasts of rates as high as 6.75 percent by year's end, but consumer rates have been falling since they peaked this year at 6.34 percent on May 13.

More Housing Starts For Aging Homeowners

There is more housing to go around for seniors these days.

Some 32,184 units of market-rate housing for seniors is now in various stages of development at 219 sites and 72 expansion projects in 38 states and Washington, D.C. -- a 12 percent gain over last year -- according to a joint study by the American Seniors Housing Association and the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industries.

That's only 50 percent of construction during the 1999 record year, but it is the second year of increases.

For the sixth consecutive year, California had the greatest number of new seniors housing properties being built (41), followed by Illinois (28), Texas (14), New York (12), and Minnesota and Washington (both with 11).

Money Smarts Available Online Or CD-ROM

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's free "Money Smart" program in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese is a self-paced course in basic financial services, money management skills, and banking services tapped by 129,000 consumers since it was first available in June 2002.

Studies reveal financially counseled or educated home buyers are more likely to be long-term home buyers and not lose their homes to default, which is why FDIC's goal is to reach 1 million consumers nationwide.

With 10 modules, including "Your Own Home," the curriculum includes lessons on bank services, and introductions to credit and credit cards, checking accounts, budgeting, saving, consumer rights and loans.

The self-paced lessons are available free online or you can order 1 to 25 copies or more of the CD-ROM version, numerous copies, say, for distribution to potential home buyers.

Nanotechnology Takes On Windex

Pesky hard water spots, streaking and smears on "cleaned" glass soon could be history.

Microscopic spheres known as nanoparticles are being put to work in a new cleaning solvent that mimics glass to keep reflective surfaces free from dirt and debris. The cleaner's ingredients form a long-lasting transparent film on glass surfaces while its hydrophilic qualities (water runs off without forming droplets, dirty streaks or misting) will help take the repetitive drudgery out of cleaning glass in the home.

Currently available only in Europe under the brand names "Sidolin," "Clin," and "Instanet Nano" the product is from the labs of Düsseldorf, Germany-based home care, personal care, and adhesives giant Henkel Group, a Procter & Gamble counterpart in the Old World flexing corporate muscles in the new one. The company earlier this year acquired Dial Corp. (maker of Purex laundry detergent and Renuzit air fresheners) and makes the LePage brand of adhesives.

Workers using the nanobubbles removed dirt from 408 windows panes and 360 reflective surfaces and cut soil build-up by as much as 75 percent.