Freddie Mac PMMS: Mortgage rates fall again this week, hitting another record-breaking lowMortgagePress.comFreddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, FRM, ARM, Frank Nothaft
Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage
Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
averaged 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending
April 2, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.85 percent.
Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.88 percent. The
30-year FRM has not been lower in the life of Freddie Mac's weekly
survey, which dates back to 1971 for the 30-year FRM.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.52 percent with an average
0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.58 percent. A
year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.42 percent. The
15-year FRM has never been lower in the life of Freddie Mac's
weekly survey, which dates back to 1991 for the 15-year FRM.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages
(ARMs) averaged 4.92 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point,
down from last week when it averaged 4.96 percent. A year ago, the
five-year ARM averaged 5.59 percent. The five-year ARM has never
been lower in the life of Freddie Macs weekly survey, which dates
back to 2005 for the five-year ARM.
One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.75 percent this week
with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged
4.85 percent. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged
5.19 percent. The one-year ARM has not been lower since the week
ending September 29, 2005, when it averaged 4.68 percent.
Average commitment rates should be reported along with average
fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the
mortgage.
"Mortgage rates followed other interest rates lower this week
amid reports of slower economic growth," said Frank Nothaft,
Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "The final estimate
of economic growth in the fourth quarter was revised lower and
personal incomes fell 0.2 percent in February, below the market
consensus.
"On a positive note, pending existing home sales rose 2.1
percent in February, marking the second increase in three months as
potential homebuyers are taking advantage of historically low
mortgage rates and falling home prices. Serving as a spur to sales,
housing affordability reached an all-time high in February 2009
since the series' inception in 1971, according to the National
Association of Realtors. By region, sales surged by nearly a third
in the Northeast and Midwest, but fell in the West."
For more information, visit www.freddiemac.com.
