The end of the year can be a smart time to buy a home, as prices tend to cool off after the summer selling season and bottom out in the winter. In 2017, there's another reason why the end of the year could be a smart time to shop for your next home: Mortgage rates are as low as they've been all year.According to the September 2017 EllieMae Origination Insight Report, mortgage rates for closed loans are at their lowest level since December 2016.