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Fixed-rates drop to 4.58 percent in latest Freddie Mac survey

Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.58 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 1, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.69 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.32 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.04 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.13 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.77 percent.
The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.79 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.84 percent. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 4.88 percent.
The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.80 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.77 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.94 percent. Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.
“Interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages and the five-year hybrid ARM fell once again to all-time record lows this week in a period where the economy struggles to gain momentum and inflation remains very low,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “Growth estimates for first quarter GDP were revised down by a half percentage point over the past two months to 2.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Annual inflation, as measured by the 12-month change in the core CPI, held at 0.9 percent in April and May, which is the slowest pace in over 44 years, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, house prices are improving due in part to the homebuyer tax credit. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index grew 0.4 percent between March and April and was up 3.9 percent from April 2009, representing the largest annual gain since October 2006. Moreover, 17 of the metropolitan areas experienced monthly gains in April, compared to ten in March and six in February.”
For more information, visit www.freddiemac.com.
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