Mortgage Rates Keep Pushing Lower

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwired - May 2, 2013) - Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS^®), showing average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the fifth consecutive week amid the weaker than expected first quarter economic growth advance estimate. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.35 percent is hovering just above its all-time record low of 3.31 percent set the week of November 21, 2012. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage set a new all-time record low this week at 2.56 percent, eclipsing the record set last week.

News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.35 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 2, 2013, down from last week when it averaged 3.40 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.84 percent. 
  
  
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.56 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.61 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.07 percent. 
  
  
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.56 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.58 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.85 percent.
  
  
• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.56 percent this week with an average 0.3 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.62 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.70 percent. 
  

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

"Mortgage rates eased somewhat following the release of the advance estimate of real GDP growth for the first quarter of the year, which rose 2.5 percent but fell short of the market consensus forecast. The latest GDP report confirmed that the housing sector has become an important contributor to the economic recovery. Residential fixed investment added to overall economic growth over the past eight consecutive quarters and contributed more than 0.3 percentage points in growth over the first three months of this year. Moreover, near record low mortgage rates should further drive the housing market recovery over the near term."

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. Today Freddie Mac is making home possible for one in four home borrowers and is one of the largest sources of financing for multifamily housing. For more information please visit www.FreddieMac.com and Twitter: @FreddieMac.