Mortgage Interest Rates Continue to Creep Up

April 14, 2011 (Shirley Allen)

Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which shows mortgage rates slowly increasing for the fourth consecutive week, yet remaining below 5 percent moving into the traditional home buying season. Mortgage interest rates have remained below 5 percent for the last eight weeks.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.91 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending April 14, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.87 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.07 percent.

• 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.13 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.10 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.40 percent.

• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.78 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.72 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.08 percent.

• year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.25 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.22 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.13 percent.

Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, stated, "Mortgage rates edged up following a light week of economic data releases. Although rates on 30-year fixed mortgages have risen four weeks in a row, they have remained below 5 percent for eight straight weeks now, helping to maintain affordability in the housing market. Meanwhile, consumer purchases of retail goods rose for the ninth consecutive month in March, suggesting families have an increasing capacity to spend, which bodes well for the economic recovery."

And…

"Reinforcing this notion, the Federal Reserve reported in its April 13th regional economic review that consumer spending picked up modestly in February and March across most Districts. In addition, it noted that economic activity generally continued to improve and that reports focusing on the near-term outlook were most often upbeat."

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages	US	NE	SE	NC	SW	W
Average	4.91	4.94	4.88	4.96	4.95	4.84
Fees & Points	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.5	0.6	0.8

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages	US	NE	SE	NC	SW	W
Average	4.13	4.17	4.14	4.13	4.21	4.04
Fees & Points	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.5	0.6	0.8

5/1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages	US	NE	SE	NC	SW	W
Average	3.78	3.85	3.73	3.95	3.72	3.66
Fees & Points	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.3	0.5	0.8
Margin	2.74	2.76	2.75	2.71	2.76	2.73

1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages	US	NE	SE	NC	SW	W
Average	3.25	3.42	3.05	3.63	3.19	3.00
Fees & Points	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.3	0.9	0.6
Margin	2.76	2.79	2.75	2.71	2.77	2.75

The National Mortgage Rate Snapshot	One Year Ago				One Week Ago
	30-YR	15-YR	5/1-YR	1-YR ARM	30-YR	15-YR	5/1-YR	1-YR ARM
Average	5.07	4.40	4.08	4.13	4.87	4.10	3.72	3.22
Fees & Points	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7
Margin	N/A	N/A	2.74	2.74	N/A	N/A	2.74	2.76

Tags: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, fixed rate mortgage, freddie mac, interest rates, mortgage rates

Source:
Freddie Mac