Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing fixed mortgage rates moving higher following stronger-than-expected employment reports. The 30-year fixed averaged 3.59 percent, and the 15-year fixed averaged 2.84 percent, still near the historic low.
Survey results show that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.59 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending August 9, 2012, up from last week when it averaged 3.55 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.32 percent.
Additionally, the 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.84 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.83 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.50 percent.
Results conclude that the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.77 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.75 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.13 percent.
The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.65 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.70 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.89 percent.
Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage.
“Fixed mortgage rates inched up again this week following stronger-than-expected employment reports,” says Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac. “The economy added 163,000 jobs in July, well above the market consensus forecast of 100,000, and the largest increase since February. In addition, the number of announced corporate layoffs fell 45 percent in July compared to last July and was the third time this year that announced layoffs were less than the same month in 2011 according to The Challenger Report. This suggests further net gains in employment are likely in the near future.”
For more information, visit www.FreddieMac.com.
