All real estate and mortgage loan companies on the Gig Harbor and Kitsap peninsulas sit in the same car on the roller coaster.

Sometimes it’s a kid’s roller coaster, with low dips and modest highs. Some times it ‘s a coaster for adults, with deep valleys and high exciting peaks. The heart can skip beats.

Simply put, low mortgage rates are propelling the home sales market to breathtaking levels.

There’s a lovely house in Silverdale, 3BR, 2.5 BA, 3,715 square feet — A “steal” at $2.75 million.

Disregarding the initial treasure chest of up-front money down, at 4 percent it’ll take 25 years to pay it off at $110,000 a year. That can be compared to financing eight “regular” houses.

On May 24, Wells Fargo’s 30-year fixed rate for homes below $322,700 has an annual percentage rate of 5.529. With the average median home price in Kitsap right around $250,000, the monthly payment would be $1,152.

Kitsap Bank’s rates were 0.6 percent less in the last week of May. This represents a difference of $150 per month, to $1,021.

Both of these are lower than the United states rate of 30 Yr Fixed, 6.76 percent; 5 Yr Fixed, 6.31 percent; 1 Yr Adjust. 5.78 percent.

First Horizon Home Loans answers extra questions such as what you can afford based on your salary.

It’s one of a large number of tools available online, though all are estimates only, albeit close.

Of course low percentage rates always means a rash of refinancing. And this year is no different - that rash is being scratched constantly. So far there are no differences in the rates offered for refinancing, though obviously payments are almost always less.

Whatever the trends, one will always stand whatever the conditions — pay more early and pay often.