Mortgage Lenders Nationwide

According to Primary Mortgage Market survey released by Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage loans with fixed rate amortizations schedules dropped to their lowest level on record, Thursday.  FHA mortgage rates declined again, along with conforming interest rates to nearly 5% for fixed 30-year loan terms.

The nationwide average interest rate for 30-year mortgage loans featuring fixed rate on a thirty year term was 5.19% for the week ending December 18, the lowest level since Freddie Mac began the survey in 1971.  First mortgage rates were down from last week when it averaged 5.47 %.  A year ago, the average for mortgage loans was 6.14%.  Second mortgage rates still remain a few points higher than interest rates for 1^st trust deeds.  Amid the foreclosure crisis, second mortgages remain a high risk for mortgage lenders and investors.

The fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.92 %, down from 5.2 % last week and 5.79 % a year ago. The fifteen-year mortgage rates have not been lower since April 1, 2004, when they averaged 4.84 %.  According to a statement by Freddie Mac chief economist, Frank Nothaft “The rate drop was driven by the Federal Reserve announcement on December 16th, when it cut the federal funds target to a record low and stated it stood ready to expand the buying of mortgage loan assets as conditions warrant.”

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate home loans averaged 5.60% this week, which is lower than the previous week that averaged 5.82%. A year ago, the five-year ARM averaged 5.90%.  One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.94% this week, down from last week when it averaged 5.09%. At this time last year, the one-year ARM averaged 5.51%.