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Fixed-rate mortgages climbed this week after signs of stronger consumer spending, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

Here are the national averages for mortgage rates for the week ending May 16:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.51 percent, with an average 0.7 point, increasing from last week’s 3.42 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.79 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.69 percent, with an average 0.7 point, rising from last week’s 2.61 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.04 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 2.62 percent, with an average 0.5 point, rising from last week’s 2.58 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.83 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage reached a new all-time record low this week, averaging 2.61 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage also reached a new record low this week of 2.58 percent.

This marked the fourth-consecutive week mortgage rates inched lower.

“The housing market is getting a boost with mortgage rates hovering at or near record lows,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages for mortgage rates for the week ending April 25:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.40 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.41 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.88 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged the new low of 2.61 percent, with an average 0.7 point. The previous record low for 15-year rates was set the week of Nov. 21, 2012, when 15-year rates averaged 2.63 percent. A year ago at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.12 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: also averaged a new all-time record low of 2.58 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, dropping from last week’s 2.60 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.85 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Mortgage applications rose 5 percent last week as mortgage rates declined, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported in its weekly mortgage market survey for the week ending April 12, which was released Wednesday.

Applications for refinancing’s, which make up the biggest bulk of the index, rose 5 percent, reaching its highest level since mid-January.

Meanwhile, mortgage applications for home purchases, viewed as a leading indicator of future home sales, ticked up 4 percent for the week, reaching its highest level since May 2010.

MBA reported 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, which are the most popular choice among home buyers, saw rates drop slightly last week averaging 3.67 percent, compared to 3.68 percent the prior week.

Source: “U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose 5% Last Week – MBA,” The Wall Street Journal (April 17, 2013)

For the second consecutive week, fixed-rate mortgages edged down, providing  support for the housing recovery, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending April 11:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.43 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.54 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.88 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.65 percent, with an average 0.7 point, falling from last week’s 2.74 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.11 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.62 percent, with an average 0.5 point, dropping from last week’s 2.65 percent average. Last year at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.85 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Average fixed-rate mortgages dropped this week, as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has hovered around 3.5 percent for the past two months, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages for mortgage rates for the week ending April 4:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.54 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.57 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.98 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.74 percent, with an average 0.7 point, dropping from last week’s 2.76 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.21 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.65 percent, with an average 0.5 point, falling from last week’s 2.68 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.86 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Mortgage rates moved slightly higher this week, but still remain low by historical standards and are providing support to the ongoing housing recovery, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

“Low and relatively steady mortgage rates are invigorating the housing market,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages for mortgage rates for the week ending March 28:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.57 percent, with an average 0.8 point, rising from last week’s 3.54 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.99 percent. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has remained below 4 percent for more than a year.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.76 percent, with an average 0.7 point, rising from last week’s 2.72 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.23 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.68 percent, with an average 0.6 point, rising from last week’s 2.61 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.90 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Mortgage rates moved lower this week, in time for the spring home buying season, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. After rising last week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reversed course and inched down. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage — the most popular — has remained below 4 percent for a year.

“Low and stable inflation is placing downward pressure on fixed mortgage rates,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Here’s a closer look at mortgage rate averages for the week ending March 21:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.54 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.63 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.08 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.72 percent, with an average 0.7 point, dropping from last week’s 2.79 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.30 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.61 percent, with an average 0.6 point, holding the same as last week. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.96 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Stronger signs of job growth and consumer spending are pushing up mortgage rates, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey . The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage — the most popular choice among home buyers — reached its highest reading since Aug. 23, 2012.

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending March 14:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.63 percent, with an average 0.8 point, rising from last week’s 3.52 percent. . A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.92 percent. On Nov. 21, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage had reached an all-time low of 3.31 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.79 percent, with an average 0.8 point, rising from last week’s 2.76 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.16 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.61 percent, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 2.63 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.83 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Following a 15 percent surge in mortgage applications, demand for home loans fell for the week ending March 8, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports in its weekly mortgage market surveyed. Mortgage rates inched up this week, decreasing demand for home loans, MBA says.

The organization’s mortgage market index, which measures loan demand for refinancing and home purchases, dropped 4.7 percent for the week. Broken out, refinancing application demand fell 5.2 percent while applications for home loans — viewed as a leading indicator of future home sales — dropped 2.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached its highest average in more than six months, averaging 3.81 percent. Recent data that revealed job growth was stronger in February than expected caused mortgage rates to inch higher, according to MBA.

Source: “Mortgage Applications Decreased Last Week as Rates Spiked,” Reuters 3/13/13

After mostly holding steady the last few weeks, mortgage rates inched down this week, giving housing a boost leading up to the spring home buying season, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. 

Freddie Mac reported the following national averages for the week ending Feb. 28: 

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.51 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.56 percent average. A year ago, 30-year rates averaged 3.90 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.76 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 2.77 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.17 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.61 percent, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 2.64 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.83 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac