US Mortgage Rates Down to Lowest Level in Three Months
Location: McLean
Author:
Eileen Fitzpatrick
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009
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 5.12 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 20, 2009, downfrom last week when it averaged 5.29 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.47 percent.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.57 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.75 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.99 percent.
One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.69 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.72 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.29 percent.
(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)
“U.S. Treasury bond yields fell nearly a quarter of a percentage point over the week, and other long-term yields followed suit,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “Interest rates on 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to the lowest level since the end of May, while initial rates on 5/1 hybrid ARMs declined to levels not seen since January 2005.
“Low mortgage rates are helping to reinforce the housing market. New construction on one-family homes rose for the fifth consecutive month in July to an annualized pace of almost 500,000 homes, the most since October 2008. In addition, homebuilder views of housing market conditions for the remainder of the year rose for the second month in a row in August to the most positive reading since June 2008, according to the National Association of Home Builders.”
|
Freddie Mac Region |
PMMS Weights |
|
Northeast |
24.2 |
|
Southeast |
19.8 |
|
North Central |
15.1 |
|
Southwest |
12.7 |
|
West |
28.2 |
PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS
30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
|
|
||||||
|
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
|
| AVERAGE |
5.12 |
5.12 |
5.11 |
5.19 |
5.12 |
5.08 |
| Fees & Points |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
|
|
||||||
|
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
|
| AVERAGE |
4.56 |
4.56 |
4.61 |
4.58 |
4.63 |
4.49 |
| Fees & Points |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)
|
|
||||||
|
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
|
| AVERAGE |
4.57 |
4.59 |
4.32 |
4.82 |
4.46 |
4.64 |
| Fees & Points |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
Margin 2.74 2.73 2.75 2.74 2.76 2.73
1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)
|
|
||||||
|
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
|
| AVERAGE |
4.69 |
4.38 |
4.98 |
4.71 |
5.03 |
4.58 |
| Fees & Points |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
Margin 2.75 2.73 2.75 2.75 2.78 2.75
THE NATIONAL MORTGAGE RATE SNAPSHOT
|
|
||||
|
|
One Year Ago | |||
|
|
30-YR FRM |
15-YR FRM |
5/1 ARM |
1-YR ARM |
| AVERAGE |
6.47 |
6.00 |
5.99 |
5.29 |
| Fees & Points |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
|
|
||||
|
|
One Week Ago | |||
|
|
30-YR FRM |
15-YR FRM |
5/1 ARM |
1-YR ARM |
| AVERAGE |
5.29 |
4.68 |
4.75 |
4.72 |
| Fees & Points |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
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.
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