Fixed-Rate Mortgages in U.S. Hover at All-Time Record Lows

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Based on Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), while most average mortgage rates inched higher on January's positive employment data, the 30-year fixed remained unchanged and at its all-time record low. One year ago at this time, the 30-year fixed averaged 5.05 percent.

Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft tells World Property Channel, "A strong January employment report added upward pressure to most mortgage rates this week. The economy gained 243,000 jobs last month, the largest monthly gain since April 2011, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, which was the lowest since February 2009.  Although historical revisions also added 266,000 even more workers, they caused the labor participation rate to fall to 63.7 percent, representing the smallest share since May 1983, which offset some of the rise in mortgage rates."

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.87 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending February 9, 2012, matching last week when it also averaged 3.87 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.05 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 3.16 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.14 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.29 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.83 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.80 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.92 percent.

1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.78 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.76 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.35 percent.