Fixed Rates Rise Slightly But Remain at Historic Lows Below

Freddie Mac has released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.41 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending Oct. 25, 2012, up from last week when it averaged 3.37 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.10 percent. Also this week, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.72 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.66 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.38 percent.  "Mortgage rates remained relatively unchanged this week and should continue to support the housing market and mortgage refinance," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac. "Existing home sales in September eased slightly to 4.75 million but was the second strongest annualized pace since May 2010. Moreover, new home sales rose to the most since April 2010. In addition, low rates and strong demand have already pushed the FHFA purchase-only home price index in August to its highest level (seasonally adjusted) since June 2010. And not surprisingly, the Federal Reserve in its October 24th monetary policy announcement acknowledged the further signs of improvement in the housing sector, albeit from a depressed level." The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.75 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, the same as last week. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 3.08 percent. The one-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.59 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.60 percent last week. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 2.90 percent.