Mortgage Rates Dip Slightly This Week, Says Freddie Mac

---

(MCLEAN, VA) -- According to Freddie Mac's (NYSE:FRE) newly released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.95 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 11, 2010. This a slight dip from last week when it averaged 4.97 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.03 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.32 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.64 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.05 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.11 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.99 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.22 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.27 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.80 percent.

"During a light week of mixed economic reports, mortgage rates eased somewhat," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  "Pending existing home sales fell 7.6 percent in January, well below the market consensus of a 1 percent gain.  Meanwhile, the economy lost only 36,000 jobs in February, fewer than market forecasts, and the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent.  In addition, revisions added a net 35,000 workers to January and December combined."

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.





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

---