US Mortgage Rates Show Mixed Results

Location: McLean
Author: Eileen Fitzpatrick
Date: Friday, July 20, 2007
 

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey(PMMS) yesterday in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.73 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending July 19, unchanged from last week.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.80 percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.38 percent with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.39 percent.  A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.41 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.35 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, unchanged from last week.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.36 percent. 

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.72 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.71 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.80 percent. (Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“In a week marked by stock indexes reaching new highs on Wall Street, mortgage rates lingered near the previous week’s level as the latest economic indicators did not affect inflation expectations significantly,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “June’s core producer price index inched up higher than market expectations, pushing the year-over-year growth rate to 1.8 percent, while the core consumer price index held steady at a 2.2 percent annual growth rate.

“The most recent statistics suggest that the housing market has yet to reach a trough. Although June’s housing starts unexpectedly rose to 1.47 million units, construction of one-unit houses still saw a decline of 0.2 percent: At 1.15 million units, it was the slowest pace since January. Building permits fell by 7.5 percent last month to the lowest level since June 1997.”

SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS

Fixed-Rate Mortgages

  Average Conventional 30-Year Commitment Rate Fees & Points Average Conventional 15-Year Commitment Rate Fees & Points
US 6.73 0.4 6.38 0.4
Northeast 6.71 0.3 6.36 0.3
Southeast 6.70 0.5 6.35 0.5
North Central 6.79 0.3 6.44 0.3
Southwest 6.72 0.4 6.40 0.3
West 6.74 0.5 6.38 0.6

 

Adjustable–Rate Mortgages

  5/1 ARM Commitment Rate Fees & Points
Margin
1 Year ARM Commitment Rate Fees & Points Margin
US 6.35 0.5 2.77 5.72 0.5 2.75
Northeast 6.27 0.4 2.80 5.68 0.5 2.76
Southeast 6.35 0.7 2.75 5.83 0.7 2.75
North Central 6.49 0.4 2.78 5.80 0.4 2.75
Southwest 6.37 0.4 2.76 5.88 0.3 2.81
West 6.32 0.6 2.75 5.58 0.5 2.72

 

Freddie Mac Region

PMMS Weights

Northeast

24.5

Southeast

18.6

North Central

15.4

Southwest

10.4

West

31.0

                                      30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

 

 

US

NE

SE

NC

SW

W

AVERAGE

6.73

6.71

6.70

6.79

6.72

6.74

Fees & Points

0.4

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.5

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

 

 

US

NE

SE

NC

SW

W

AVERAGE

6.38

6.36

6.35

6.44

6.40

6.38

Fees & Points

0.4

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.6

                                     5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

 

 

US

NE

SE

NC

SW

W

AVERAGE

6.35

6.27

6.35

6.49

6.37

6.32

Fees & Points

0.5

0.4

0.7

0.4

0.4

0.6

                                  1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

 

 

US

NE

SE

NC

SW

W

AVERAGE

5.72

5.68

5.83

5.80

5.88

5.58

Fees & Points

0.5

0.5

0.7

0.4

0.3

0.5

                           THE NATIONAL MORTGAGE RATE SNAPSHOT

 

 

One Year Ago

 

30-YR FRM

15-YR FRM

5/1 ARM

1-YR ARM

AVERAGE

6.80

6.41

6.36

5.80

Fees & Points

0.5

0.4

0.6

0.7

 

 

 

One Week Ago

 

30-YR FRM

15-YR FRM

5/1 ARM

1-YR ARM

AVERAGE

6.73

6.39

6.35

5.71

Fees & Points

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.5

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is for informational purposes only and Freddie Mac is not responsible for business decisions made based on the reported results of the PMMS.  Freddie Mac may change the methodology used to conduct the PMMS survey at any time and without notice.

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