Mortgage Rates in U.S. Remain Near 2014 Lows

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According to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), the average fixed mortgage rate edging slightly higher while remaining near their 2014 lows amid mixed housing and economic news.

Freddie Mac's chief economist Frank Nothaft said, "Mortgage rates were up slightly, following a week of mixed economic releases. Existing home sales were down 6.1 percent in November to annual rate of 4.93 million units, below economists' expectations. New home sales fell 1.6 percent last month to an annual rate of 438,000, also below expectations. Meanwhile, the third quarter real GDP was revised sharply higher to 5.0 percent according to the final estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis."

Freddie Mac reports:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.83 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending December 24, 2014, up from last week when it averaged 3.80 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.48 percent. 

• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.10 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.09 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.52 percent. 

• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.01 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.95 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.00 percent.

• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.39 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.38 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.56 percent.