Freddie Mac survey: Long-term mortgage rates relatively flat: as housing industry remains in slumpMortgagePress.comFreddie Mac, PMMS, housing statistics, Primary Mortgage Market Survey,
Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage
Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
averaged 6.52 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending
Aug. 7, 2008, unchanged from last week when it averaged 6.52
percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.59
percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.10 percent with an average
0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 6.07 percent. A year
ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.25 percent.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages
(ARMs) averaged 6.05 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point,
down from last week when it averaged 6.07 percent. A year ago, the
five-year ARM averaged 6.33 percent.
One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.22 percent this week
with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged
5.27 percent. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged
5.65 percent.
Average commitment rates should be reported along with average
fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the
mortgage.
"The housing market is continuing to act as a drag on the
economy," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief
economist. "Residential fixed investment subtracted 0.6 percentage
points off second quarter growth in real GDP.
"More recently, mortgage applications for home purchases in the
past few weeks fell to the slowest pace since the week ending Feb.
21, 2003, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Finally,
although showing some initial signs of improvement, the inventory
of unsold homes remains at historically high levels."
For more information, visit www.freddiemac.com
