Most US Mortgage Rates Recede this Week

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 4.82 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending April 16, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.87 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.88 percent. 

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.48 percent with an average 0.6 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.54 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.40 percent.  This is the lowest the 15-year FRM has been since Freddie Mac began tracking it in August 1991.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.88 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.93 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.48 percent.  This is the lowest the 5-year ARM has been since Freddie Mac began tracking it in January 2005.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.91 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.83 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.10 percent. 

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

“Mortgage rates on fixed-rate loans and some ARM products eased this week,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “The housing industry is starting to exhibit some positive signs, albeit scarce and too early to tell how permanent.  In its April 15th regional economic report, the Federal Reserve reported that better-than-expected buyer traffic led to a scattered pickup in home sales in a number of its Districts over the 6-week period ending on April 6^th.  Factors such as homebuyer tax credits, low mortgage rates, and more affordable prices were cited as leading to more potential buyers.  This may have added to the rise in homebuilder confidence in April, which rose to the highest level in six months, according to the National Association of Home Builders.  Moreover, confidence increased in each of the four regions, led by the Northeast and Midwest.

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS

30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.74                2.73               2.75                2.74                2.78             2.73

1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.75                2.73               2.75                2.72                2.83             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.  In general, the data presented were calculated from information collected Monday through Wednesday of the same week that the PMMS is released and may not reflect mortgage rates, fees or points currently available from any lender.  Freddie Mac may change the methodology used to conduct the PMMS survey at any time and without notice.