In a current trend that astounds even veteran housing analysts, there’s a tsunami of aspiring mortgage applicants calling lenders’ offices and searching the internet for the best available deal.

It’s not hard to grasp what’s behind the frenzy. Simply stated, it’s the presence of exceptionally low mortgage rates. In many cases, well-qualified borrowers can now obtain a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for under 3%. That’s cheaper home financing than even their parents or grandparents could find back in the day.

“As we are coming out of lockdown, we see this backlog of buyers trying to take advantage of record-low rates,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org), says that even in places where COVID-19 is peaking, there’s intense interest in home buying.

Another factor driving mortgage demand is the zeal for refinancing. For homeowners seeking to slash their monthly expenses, a refi can translate to sizable savings.

“The industry is responding to an avalanche of applications for refinances,” says Rob Foos, a loan adviser for Redfin Mortgage.

Of course, with the nation suffering through a recession with a still very high level of joblessness, lenders are obviously very nervous, says Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates (hsh.com), which has been tracking mortgage markets for consumers since 1979.

To some degree, recent federal legislation has protected consumers’ credit reports, even when a job loss has resulted in late payments on their rent or current mortgage. But don’t expect to get a new mortgage to refinance or buy a better home if you’re currently unemployed.

“Sorry to say, unemployment benefits aren’t considered regular income when you’re applying for a mortgage. That’s true regardless of whether you’re on furlough and anticipate going back to the same employer after the pandemic is over,” Gumbinger says.

Here are a few pointers for home loan shoppers:

-- Develop a short list of lenders based on personal referrals.

Guy Cecala, who heads Inside Mortgage Finance, which publishes industry newsletters, says real estate agents are in a good position to know which lenders will offer the smoothest and swiftest loan processing.

Though mortgage brokers, who shop your loan application to multiple lenders, are now fewer in number, many home loans are still being made by large banks, community banks and credit unions. In addition, there’s been an increase in the number of online mortgage lenders.

“Contact at least three different types of lenders before making your selection. Try to include on your list one mortgage broker, one major bank and one smaller bank or credit union,” Cecala says.

Friends and co-workers can be excellent sources for names of reputable lenders, especially if they’ve taken out a home loan within the last year, says Dale Robyn Siegel, a veteran mortgage lender and author of “The New Rules for Mortgages.”

“I still believe in the old-fashioned method of asking around for referrals,” Siegel says.

-- Avoid giving out your Social Security number prematurely.

Of course, no self-respecting lender will guarantee your mortgage rate without first pulling your credit scores. But that doesn’t mean you should give out your Social Security number (the key to pulling your credit scores) while you’re still doing comparison shopping.

Granted, those with credit scores at the highest end of the range are eligible for the best possible mortgage rates. Still, you shouldn’t have to release your private information just for routine rate shopping.

-- Watch out for “junk fees” imposed by a lender.

There are a number of costs and fees involved in mortgage lending, and only some of them are imposed by lenders. These lender-based fees include the cost for a home appraisal and a copy of your credit report. Also, other charges -- nicknamed “junk fees” -- can be imposed by the lender at the time of closing.

To better protect consumers, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (hud.gov) has set tighter rules to let borrowers compare lenders on the basis of their charges. As a result, HUD now requires lenders to give borrowers an early and accurate listing of their closing costs.

But Gumbinger says it’s up to consumers to carefully compare a lender’s charges before deciding whether to proceed. To do this, it’s important to study a copy of the lender’s estimated charges. This form should list all the fees you’d pay at closing, with a very small margin for changes. The lender must give you this estimate shortly after you apply for a mortgage.

“People with steady jobs, sterling credit and lots of home equity -- or a monster-sized down payment -- are in a commanding position to get the lowest fees and the best available rates,” Gumbinger says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Despite the pandemic, a single mother in her 30s had to put her house on the market due to divorce. But surprisingly, she discovered many emotional positives from the decluttering process leading up to her recent move to a much smaller bungalow in the same neighborhood.

“The selling process required her to clear through a tremendous number of excess belongings,” says Korinne Belock, a professional organizer who advised the woman.

Given all the stress associated with COVID-19, it could seem counterintuitive for homeowners to benefit psychologically from purging years’ worth of accumulations in order to sell. But Belock, who founded the organizing firm Urban Simplicity 10 year ago, says the pandemic period is an especially good time for owners to streamline their material lives.

“By cutting back on their excess stuff, they gain a strong sense of control, which has a calming effect,” she says.

Unfortunately, a household decluttering project can feel overwhelming to owners attempting to do it quickly, especially during this highly emotional period, says Marla Stone, a former psychotherapist turned professional organizer.

“During this pandemic, there’s a war inside many people between over-collecting and purging,” says Stone, author of “The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff.”

To ease a decluttering project, Stone recommends that sellers who can afford to hire a professional organizer do so. One source she cites for local referrals is through the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (napo.net).

“We help simplify the process,” says Stone, a long-time organizer who’s assisted many sellers.

Here are a few pointers for those embarking on a decluttering program:

-- Recognize that many Americans struggle with clutter.

Most U.S. households battle an inflow of more items than they can handle, particularly with the rise in online shopping, says Nancy McKinney, who launched her professional organizing company more than two decades ago.

Part of the problem, she says, is that the country has become a bargain-hunter’s paradise, especially with the explosion of online shopping. Also, there are many more “influencers” on social media, who encourage more purchases.

The crush of superfluous belongings, including stacks of papers and books, can lead to a crisis when it comes time to sell a home. Most listing agents say clients with too much junk on display often have to sell at a discount.

“From a financial standpoint, it’s far better to go through all your stuff before the house is put up for sale rather than waiting until a few weeks before you have to move,” McKinney says.

-- Execute your crash clearing program carefully.

Those who need to declutter on a short deadline -- whether for a home sale or another purpose -- should be especially meticulous in mapping strategy before they begin, according to McKinney.

As a starting point, she suggests home-sellers visit their next residence (if that’s already known) to take photos and room measurements.

“This will help you estimate how much space you’ll have at the new place and which furnishings and other belongings will fit in,” she says.

She recommends you tackle just one room at a time until the job is finished and be sure to give yourself breaks along the way to avert burnout.

-- Look to local recycling programs for castoffs.

With landfills around the nation overflowing, an increasing number of nonprofit groups are emerging that allow people to donate their surplus items to those in need who live in their community.

Depending on local restrictions, you can give away so much hassle-free through the internet: clothes, books, linens, sporting equipment, toys, tools or furniture. Many home sellers are surprised at the demand for their spare items.

“The advantage of community recycling is that your extra things get carted off quickly, often more quickly than if you had a charity pick them up,” McKinney says. It’s also faster than staging a yard sale or a garage sale.

One way to get in touch with a community recycling group in your area is through The Freecycle Network, (freecycle.org), a nonprofit that began in Arizona in 2003. Its goal is to promote waste reduction “one gift at a time.”

Nicole Welsh, who just entered the professional organizing field last year, says she’s quickly learned that it’s far easier to let go of superfluous possessions if they’re given away to someone in need.

“With this pandemic, there are so many who have lost jobs and are suffering financially and would welcome your donations,” Welsh says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Real estate agents across the nation say downsizing is down but upsizing is way, way up. The main reason? COVID-19 has convinced many that living large is much more commodious at a time when one’s residence is the centerpiece of both family life and work.

What’s top of mind for many homebuyers now are the needs of their young children -- many of whom have been stuck at home for months with classes and summer camps canceled, says Stacy Berman, a veteran agent now doing a brisk business helping home shoppers who aspire to upsize.

Berman notes that parents don’t know when and under what circumstances their children will return to school or their usual extracurricular activities. Because of that, “Families are looking for homes where their kids can have backyard space -- maybe even enough space to install a big Slip 'N Slide or a trampoline,” says Berman, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

COVID-19 has also underscored the importance of having as much interior square footage as possible, says Tom Early, a longtime real estate broker who works solely with buyers and takes no listings.

“People still want a fabulous kitchen that connects to a super ‘great room,’ but now they also want a home office for every adult and dedicated homework space for all the kids. On top of that, they wish for a nice home entertainment center and a home workout room for the whole family,” says Early, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

“Millions of Americans who lost jobs or income are only able to stay in their homes right now thanks to extraordinary forbearance programs, which means they likely have to pause their plans to trade up or move to a new city,” says Jeff Tucker, an economist for Zillow (zillow.com), which tracks real estate markets throughout the U.S.

But as Tucker observes, the availability of near-record low mortgage rates is proving a strong incentive for move-up buyers who hold steady jobs and are yearning for a larger, more kid-friendly house.

Buyer eagerness is reflected in the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index done by Fannie Mae (fanniemae.com), the national mortgage company. After dropping to nearly its lowest level in history in April, the index bounced back significantly in June. Fully 61% of consumers now think it’s a good time to buy a home.

Here are a few pointers for buyers with young children:

-- Seek a property with as many bedrooms as your budget allows.

Newly built houses with a wealth of living space typically feature spacious master bedroom suites. In such houses, secondary bedrooms, designed for children and guests, are more of an afterthought.

But Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and the co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies,” says it’s often more important for families to have an adequate number of bedrooms than a luxurious master suite.

“People who have fond memories of sharing a bedroom with a sibling may be fine with that sort of setup. However, nowadays most buyers really want a separate bedroom for every kid -- so all the children can get enough sleep,” he says.

--Recognize that a two-story house gives you more space for the money.

Many current buyers favor single-level living. But Tyson says those with young children might wish to consider the advantages of living on two levels. That’s because it’s easier to contain the noise and mess of growing children if their bedrooms are separated from the family’s common living space. Also, young families can typically get more square footage for the money in a two-story house.

“In most areas, the key component of housing costs are land costs. Because two-story houses require less land, you usually get more house for the same price,” Tyson says.

-- Spend ample time investigating nearby schools.

Through the internet, it’s easy to compare schools on the basis of standardized test scores. But there are many other factors to consider as well, says Berman, whose children are 14 and 16 and still don’t know if their schools will reopen this fall.

Berman always advises her home-buying clients to make an appointment to visit schools in any neighborhood they’re considering and to meet with staff there. But during the pandemic, when in-person visits are often unavailable, she recommends parents request a video conference with the principal or staff counselors.

“Invisible factors make a huge difference to children, especially if they have special talents -- like art or music -- or special learning issues. Plus, the leadership of a school sets the tone for its culture, which could greatly affect your kids’ experience there,” Berman says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)