US 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Lowest in Four Months, Nearing All-Time Low Set in Survey in March

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 4.94 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 1, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.04 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.10 percent.  The last time the 30-year FRM was below 5 percent was the week ending May 28, 2009, when it averaged 4.91 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.36 percent with an average 0.6 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.46 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.78 percent.  This is the lowest the 15-year FRM has been since Freddie Mac started tracking it in 1991.

The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.42 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.51 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.00 percent.

The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.49 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, downfrom last week when it averaged 4.52 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.12 percent.

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

“Low mortgage rates are helping to stabilize home sales,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  “New home sales in August rose to the highest annualized pace since September 2008 and the inventory of unsold houses fell to the lowest level since February 1983.

Although existing home sales fell somewhat in august, it was still the second strongest showin in 23 months.  Furthermore, house prices increased for the second month in a row in July, after adjusting for seasonality, based on the 20-city composite S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price index®.  Moreover, the increases were more broad-based in July with house prices rising in 17 of these metropolitan areas, compared to 16 in June.

PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS

30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

15-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGES

5/1 ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.74                2.71               2.75                2.74                2.78             2.73

1-YEAR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES (ARMs)

Margin                        2.75                2.71               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.