U.S. Mortgage Rates Hover at Near Record Lows, Again

---

According to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS),  fixed mortgage rates in the U.S. moved slightly lower while continuing to remain near their all-time lows this past week amid signs of a growing economy and low inflation.

Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft said, "Mortgage rates remained relatively unchanged this week on signs of a growing economy and low inflation. The economy grew 2.0 percent in the third quarter with residential fixed investment contributing 0.3 percentage points to growth. The core price index of personal consumer expenditures grew 1.7 percent between September 2011 and 2012 and was within the Federal Reserve's preferred target range."

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.39 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 1, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.41 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.00 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 2.70 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.72 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.31 percent.
 
The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.74 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.75 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.96 percent.
 
1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.58 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.59 percent last week. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.88 percent.