Mortgage Rates Post Mixed Results This Week

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According to Freddie Mac's (OTC:FMCC) latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey  (PMMS), this past week showed mixed results for both long and short-term rates, with the 30-year rising slightly and the 15-year falling just as slightly.

Freddie Mac's chief economist Frank Nothaft said, "Mortgage rates were little changed during the holiday week amid reports that inflation remains tame. Both the December core producer price index and consumer price index matched the market consensus. Compared to December 2009, core consumer prices rose at a 0.8 percent rate, the smallest yearly increase since records began in 1958."

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.74 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 20, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.71 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.99 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.05 percent with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.08 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.40 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.69 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.72 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.27 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.25 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.23 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.32 percent.

Nothaft further said, "The housing construction market, however, still remains weak. The Commerce Department reported that new building of one-family homes fell by 9 percent in December, led by a 38 percent drop in the Midwest region. Moreover, homebuilder confidence remained the same in January according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, but was below the market consensus forecast."

 

Freddie Mac defines its regions as follows:

Northeast: NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT
Southeast: NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, FL, MS, PR, VI
North Central: OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, ND, SD
Southwest: TX, LA, NM, OK, AR, MO, KS, CO, NE, WY
West: CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, UT, ID, MT, HI, AK, GU

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