Fixed Rates Continue to Near the 3.50 Percent Mark

Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing the average 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgage hitting new all-time record lows along with the five-year ARM. This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.53 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 19, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.56 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.52 percent. The average 30-year fixed has been below the four percent mark all but one week in 2012. Also this week, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.83 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.86 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.66 percent. "With little signs of inflation and the Federal Reserve's 'Operation Twist' keeping U.S. Treasury bond yields in check, fixed mortgage rates are remaining low and helping to stir the housing market," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist for Freddie Mac. "For instance, the 12-month growth rate in the core Consumer Price Index has been in a narrow 2.1 to 2.3 percent band over the past nine months ending in June. Meanwhile, new construction on one-family homes rose for the fourth consecutive month in June to its strongest pace since April 2010 with builders restocking their lean inventories of new homes. In fact, homebuilder confidence for the next six months rose for the third month in a row in July to its highest reading since March 2007." The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.69 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.74 percent. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 3.27 percent. The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.69 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, the same as last week. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 2.97 percent.