Hospital design and the food industry could teach the residential real estate community a lot when it comes to creating healthier space, says Bea Spolidoro, principal at FisherARCHitecture in Pittsburgh. A person’s home can have a physical and psychological health impact, Spolidoro told Forbes.com.

Spolidoro says homes can be designed to limit the spread of germs and bacteria with flatter, smoother surfaces that are easier to clean. Spolidoro recommends reducing seams in countertops, ensuring nothing can easily fall behind built-in cabinetry, and avoiding overly complicated designs in high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handles, buttons, operating parts, and railings.

Nonporous materials are easier to clean and sanitize, such as steel, quartz, and Corian. On the other hand, granite and other natural stone countertop surfaces are more porous and can allow for microbial spores to accumulate. Look for materials that have natural antimicrobial properties, such as copper and its alloys—brasses, bronzes, copper, nickel, and zinc, among others.

Also, proper ventilation is important in reducing the spread of bacteria, limiting the accumulation of pollutants inside and outside a home, which can affect those with respiratory problems. Several indoor air quality monitors can help track levels of pollutants. Additionally, outdoor air quality monitors can warn when windows should be closed. Air purifiers and even some indoor plants also can help improve the air quality inside a home.

Borrowing costs fell this week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage setting a new record low for the third time in the last few months. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.15% this week, the lowest average in Freddie Mac’s records dating back nearly 50 years.

“These unprecedented rates have certainly made an impact, as purchase demand rebounded from a 35% year-over-year decline in mid-April to an 8% increase of last week—a remarkable turnaround given the sharp contraction in economic activity,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Additionally, refinance activity remains elevated, and low mortgage rates have been accompanied by a $70,000 decline in average loan size of refinance borrowers this year. This means a broader base of borrowers are taking advantage of the record-low rate environment, which will benefit the economy.”

Freddie Mac reported the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending May 28:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.15%, with an average 0.8 point, falling from last week’s 3.24% average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.99%.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.62%, with an average 0.7 point, falling from last week’s 2.70% average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.46%.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.13%, with an average 0.4 point, falling from last week’s 3.17% average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs average 3.60%.

Freddie Mac reports average commitment rates along with fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining a mortgage.

For those financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing where to look for updates on information about aid programs has proven challenging. But several government agencies have stepped in with resource tools to help homeowners and renters.

The latest comes from mortgage financing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which launched new initiatives to help homeowners and renters who have been affected by the pandemic.

Fannie Mae launched “Here to Help,” an online resource for owners and renters at knowyouroptions.com, to offer up videos, fact sheets, mortgage loan and apartment rental lookup tools, and more to help owners and renters get the information they need to navigate their options.

“We hope ‘Here to Help’ will bring some clarity, transparency, and assurance to homeowners and renters who are facing job loss, reduction in work hours, illness, or other issues related to COVID-19,” says Hugh R. Frater, Fannie Mae’s CEO.

Freddie Mac launched its own consumer education resource within its MyHome site that provides a guide on owning, renting, and where to find help. It is available in Spanish. Freddie also launched a #HelpStartsHere campaign to try to help spread the message on social media of where consumers can turn to for help.

“While we have taken unprecedented action to help millions of owners and renters struggling due to this pandemic, our efforts cannot be fully effective without widespread awareness,” said David Brickman, Freddie Mac’s CEO. “Our online tools are designed to ensure those affected are aware of their options so they can get the help they need now.”

Earlier this month, four federal agencies joined forces to launch a new mortgage and housing assistance website to protect the economic security of homeowners and renters. The website, created in partnership with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, consolidates their existing resources and new extensive CARES Act assistance offered by all of the agencies into one location. Consumers can access information from the federal government on mortgage relief and protection for renters, tips on avoiding COVID-19–related scams, and search tools for homeowners to determine whether their mortgage is federally backed.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it has received a record number of consumer complaints in March and April as consumers grew concerned over their finances at the onset of the global pandemic.

In March, CFPB says it received about 36,700 complaints from consumers about financial services providers. In April, they received 42,500 complaints. Both March and April made up the highest the agency has ever received in its history.

Complaints mostly centered on credit reporting, which jumped 29%. Complaints about title loans increased by 20%, and complaints about mortgages increased by 10%.

Many consumers expressed dissatisfaction with the wait times to get answers to questions. “Some consumers are reporting hold times of several hours,” CFPB noted in the report. “For those who are pursuing payment options, some described no methods other than phone to access potential options.”

With mortgages, forbearance rules and requirements were a hot topic of confusion. “Consumers raised concerns whether they will have to pay lump-sum payments at the completion of forbearance periods,” CFPB noted. “Many of these consumers reported that companies offering forbearance periods informed them that there would be a balloon payment equal to the entire amount placed in forbearance. Some consumers report that the 90-day forbearance period offered is insufficient and they will not be in a position to submit a lump sum payment in 90 days.”

The National Association of REALTORS® has been helping to provide brochures that real estate professionals can customize and use to help inform their clients and also help dispel myths about forbearance. One brochure—“Protect Your Investment”—is available at realtorparty.realtor and outlines what homeowners should ask lenders about their options and payback when weighing forbearance.