Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Inch Higher

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates were slightly higher this week with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate inching to 3.69 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.23 discount and origination points.

The larger jumbo 30-year fixed rose to 3.74 percent, while the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate climbed to 2.96 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates increased this week as well, with the 5-year ARM moving up to 3.14 percent and the 7-year ARM jumping to 3.32 percent.    

With inflation finally on the rise, mortgage rates moved higher for the fourth time in the past five weeks. The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit the highest level since mid-June, erasing the Brexit-induced decline that lasted all summer and much of the fall. Even though the Federal Reserve held off on raising interest rates, they pointed to increased inflation and inflation expectations, which are the factors that have been pushing bond yields and mortgage rates higher. Inflation is the worst enemy of a long-term bond investor as it erodes the value of the fixed payments the investor receives. Mortgage rates are closely related to long-term government bond yields because mortgages are often packaged together and sold as bonds. With uncertainty about the election gripping financial markets, the course financial markets take in the coming days will depend on how events in an already wacky election unfold.

At the current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 3.69 percent, the monthly payment for a $200,000 loan is $950.22.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 3.69% -- up from 3.64% last week (avg. points: 0.23)
15-year fixed: 2.96% -- up from 2.93% last week (avg. points: 0.19)
5/1 ARM: 3.14% -- up from 3.11% last week (avg. points: 0.26)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in 10 top markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-analysis-110216.aspx

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. The majority of panelists – 60 percent – expect mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged over the next week.  The remaining respondents are mixed with 20 percent predicting a rise in mortgage rates and 20 percent forecasting a decline over the next seven days.

About Bankrate.com

Bankrate.com provides consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life's financial journey. For over two decades, Bankrate.com has been a leading personal finance destination.  The company offers award-winning editorial content, competitive rate information, and calculators and tools across multiple categories, including mortgages, deposits, credit cards, retirement, automobile loans, and taxes. Bankrate aggregates rate information from over 4,800 institutions on more than 300 financial products. With coverage of over 600 local markets, Bankrate generates rate tables in all 50 U.S. states. Bankrate develops and provides web services to more than 100 cobranded websites with online partners, including some of the most trusted and frequently visited personal finance sites on the internet, such as Comcast, Yahoo!, CNBC and Bloomberg.  In addition, Bankrate licenses editorial content to more than 500 newspapers on a daily basis including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.

For more information contact:
Kayleen Yates
Vice President, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
(917) 368-8677     

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SOURCE Bankrate

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