U.S. Fixed Rate Mortgages Start Rising Again

---

According Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), fixed mortgage rates in the U.S. ended their streak of record-breaking lows and moved higher on mixed Eurozone debt crisis, and domestic economic data. Before this week, the average rate on the 30-year fixed had fallen to or matched record-low levels in 13 of the past 14 weeks.

Freddie Mac's chief economist Frank Nothaft says, "Recent announcements of additional debt relief for the Eurozone and mixed domestic economic indicators added upward pressure on Treasury yields as well as mortgage rates this week. The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5 percent annualized rate in the second quarter, slower than the 2.0 percent growth in the first quarter with consumer spending in June unchanged from May. However, consumer confidence rose in July for the first time in five months according to The Conference Board."

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.55 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 2, 2012, up from last week when it averaged 3.49 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.39 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 2.83 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.80 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.54 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.75 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.74 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.18 percent.

1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.70 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.71 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.02 percent. 

Nothaft concludes, "Housing data were also assorted. The S&P-500 Case Shiller 20-City Composite Index rose for the fourth consecutive month in May with 18 of the cities experiencing positive growth. Nonetheless, pending home sales fell 1.4 percent in June, below the market consensus forecast of a 0.3 percent increase, and May's figure had a downward revision."