Mortgage Rates Take a Dip

Mortgage rates were mostly down this week, according to the latest Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS).

 

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.90 percent for the week ending Nov. 30, down from last week when it averaged 3.92 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.30 percent, down from last week when it averaged 3.32 percent. But the five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.32 percent this week, up from last week when it averaged 3.22 percent.

 

“The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell two basis points to 3.9 percent in this week's survey, but we closed our survey prior to a surge in long-term interest rates following an upward revision to third quarter U.S. Real GDP growth and comments by Federal Reserve Chair Yellen touting a broad-based economic expansion,” said Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac’s Deputy Chief Economist. “The market implied probability of a Fed rate hike in December neared 100 percent, helping to drive short term interest rates higher. The 5/1 Hybrid ARM, which is more sensitive to short-term rates than the 30-year fixed mortgage, increased 10 basis points to 3.32 percent in this week's survey. The spread between the 30-year fixed mortgage and 5/1 Hybrid ARM is just 58 basis points this week, the lowest spread since November of 2012.”

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