Weaker Jobs Market Leads to Lower US Mortgage Rates

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.20 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 6, 2008, downfrom last week when it averaged 6.46 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent. 

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.88 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.19 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.90 percent. 

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.19 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.36 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.89 percent.  

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.25 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 5.38 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.50 percent. 

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Mortgage rates fell this week amid new indications of a pullback in consumer spending and a weaker jobs market,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “The economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the third quarter, led by the first decline in consumer spending since the fourth quarter of 1991.  In September alone, consumer spending fell by the most since June 2004.  More recently, job layoffs more than doubled in October compared to September on year-over-year basis.

“With the economy contracting and experiencing record home foreclosures, lenders tightened their credit standards further, according to the October Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer survey.  Approximately 70 percent of banks raised their lending standards for prime mortgages and about 90 percent of banks that offer nontraditional mortgages did so as well.”

PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS

30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.74                2.72               2.75                2.77                2.76             2.73

1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.74                2.71               2.75                2.73                2.79             2.75

THE NATIONAL MORTGAGE RATE SNAPSHOT

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.