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

In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), fixed-rate mortgages are 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.

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.

According 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."


March 9, 2012, Published by Realty Times

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