US Mortgage Rates Fall Again This Week, Hitting Another Record-Breaking Low

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 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 2, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.85 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.88 percent.  The 30-year FRM has not been lower in the life of Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, which dates back to 1971 for the 30-year FRM.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.52 percent with an average 0.7 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.58 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.42 percent.  The 15-year FRM has never been lower in the life of Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, which dates back to 1991 for the 15-year FRM.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.92 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.96 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.59 percent.  The 5-year ARM has never been lower in the life of Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, which dates back to 2005 for the 5-year ARM.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.75 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.85 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.19 percent.  The 1-year ARM has not been lower since the week ending September 29, 2005, when it averaged 4.68 percent.

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

“Mortgage rates followed other interest rates lower this week amid reports of slower economic growth” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “The final estimate of economic growth in the fourth quarter was revised lower and personal incomes fell 0.2 percent in February, below the market consensus. 

“On a positive note, pending existing home sales rose 2.1 percent in February, marking the second increase in three months as potential homebuyers are taking advantage of historically low mortgage rates and falling home prices.  Serving as a spur to sales, housing affordability reached an all-time high in February 2009 since the series' inception in 1971, according to the National Association of Realtors®.  By region, sales surged by nearly a third in the Northeast and Midwest, but fell in the West.”

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.

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.

PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS

30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.74                2.74               2.75                2.74                2.78             2.71

1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.76                2.75               2.75                2.73                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.