Fixed-rate Mortgages Remain at or Near All-time Lows

MCLEAN, Va., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing fixed-rate mortgages at or near their 60-year lows helping to drive record high homebuyer affordability. The 15-year fixed, a popular choice among refinance borrowers, averaged a new all-time record low of 3.13 percent.  

News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.88 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending March 8, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.90 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.88 percent. 
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.13 percent with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.17 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.15 percent. 
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.81 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.83 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.73 percent.
• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.73 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.72 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.21 percent.  

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes

Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

• "With these historically low rates and declining house prices, the typical family had more than double the income needed to purchase a median-priced home in January, according to the National Association of Realtors® Housing Affordability Index which registered the highest reading since records began in 1970.  In fact, the Corelogic® National Home Price Index fell for the sixth consecutive month in January to the lowest level since January 2003. This high level of affordability likely contributed to the recent two-week rise ending March 2nd in mortgage applications for home purchases."

Get the latest information from Freddie Mac's Office of the Chief Economist on Twitter:@FreddieMac

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.

SOURCE Freddie Mac

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