U.S. Mortgage Rates Post Mixed Results This Week

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According to Freddie Mac's (OTC: FMCC) latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), both long- and short-term mortgage rates showed mixed results this past week.

Freddie Mac's chief economist Frank Nothaft said, "Mortgage rates held relatively stable this week on news that the economy improved and inflation remained in check at the end of 2010. In the fourth quarter, the economy grew at a 3.2 percent annualized rate, compared to 2.6 percent in the third quarter, and was led by a 4.4 percent gain in consumer spending. In addition, the core price index for consumer expenditures rose by an annualized rate of 0.4 percent, which was the smallest increase ever since records began in 1959."

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.81 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending February 4, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.80 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.01 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.08 percent with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.09 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 3.70 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.27 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.26 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, the same as last week when it averaged 3.26 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.22 percent.

Nothaft further commented, "In the fourth quarter of 2010, housing was the most affordable on record according to figures published by the National Association of Realtors which date back to 1971."



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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