US Mortgage Rates Little Changed 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 5.07 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 26, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 5.04 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.68 percent with an average 0.7 point, unchangedfrom last week when it averaged 4.68 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.72 percent. 

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.06 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, upfrom last week when it averaged 5.04 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.43 percent. 

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.81 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, upfrom last week when it averaged 4.80 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.11 percent. 

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

“Mortgage rates were little changed this week amid mixed data reports of a slowing economy,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “Both the core Producer Price and Consumer Price Indexes ticked up in January, higher than the market consensus, while consumer confidence in February fell to the lowest reading since records began in January 1967.

“Lower house prices and affordable mortgage rates have yet to spur housing demand.  For instance, house prices declined by 8.7 percent for the 12 months ending in December 2008 and were down 10.9 percent from their highs set ion April of 2007, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s purchase-only monthly home price index.  However, existing home sales (excluding condominiums and co-ops) fell 4.7 percent in January to 4.05 million units (annualized), the slowest pace since July 1997.”

PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS

30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.71                2.58               2.75                2.75                2.78             2.73

1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.75                2.74               2.75                2.74                2.82             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.