US Mortgage Rates Drop as Unemployment Figures Climb

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.25 percent with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.32 percent.  A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.20 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.33 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 6.29 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.21 percent. 

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.65 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.59 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.69 percent. (Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Interest rates on prime conforming fixed-rate mortgages eased further in the past week, according to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey, even though other sources such as HSH Associates reported that jumbo fixed rates increased by a quarter percent or more last week,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “Job creation fell short of market expectations, with 92,000 jobs added in July, the smallest gain since February, and June’s number was revised down by 6,000.  In addition, the unemployment rate ticked up for the first time in four months to 4.6 percent.

“Freddie Mac reported that the amount of home equity cashed out through refinancing totaled $76.7 billion in the second quarter. Although slightly higher than the previous quarter’s level, it still reflected a drop of  $24.5 billion compared to the same quarter last year. Both the tightening of underwriting standards and slackening house price appreciation are possible contributing factors to the decline.”

SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS
Fixed-Rate Mortgages
	Average Conventional 30-Year Commitment Rate	Fees & Points	Average Conventional 15-Year Commitment Rate	Fees & Points
US	6.59	0.4	6.25	0.4
Northeast	6.63	0.2	6.26	0.2
Southeast	6.55	0.5	6.23	0.5
North Central	6.63	0.3	6.29	0.2
Southwest	6.63	0.3	6.33	0.2
West	6.57	0.6	6.20	0.6

 

Adjustable–Rate Mortgages
	5/1 ARM Commitment Rate	Fees & Points	Margin	1 Year ARM Commitment Rate	Fees & Points	Margin
US	6.33	0.5	2.77	5.65	0.5	2.75
Northeast	6.30	0.5	2.82	5.75	0.5	2.77
Southeast	6.39	0.6	2.75	5.75	0.9	2.75
North Central	6.49	0.3	2.78	5.66	0.1	2.78
Southwest	6.43	0.3	2.77	5.68	0.3	2.80
West	6.21	0.6	2.73	5.51	0.5	2.71

 

Freddie Mac Region	PMMS Weights
Northeast	24.5
Southeast	18.6
North Central	15.4
Southwest	10.4
West	31.0