Mortgage Rates Continue at Record Lows

dollar signFreddie Mac’s most recent Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), shows mortgage rates declining amid continued weak economic and housing data.

While the 30-year fixed held steady at 4.22 percent, the 5-year ARM set a new all-time record low having fallen for the eighth consecutive week and now standing at 2.96 percent.

“Weaker economic data reports eased upward pressure on mortgage rates this week and kept them at or near all-time record lows,” according to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist for Freddie Mac. “The economy grew at a slower rate of 1 percent in the second quarter than was originally reported due to a smaller increase in inventories and fewer exports. In addition, consumer confidence in August fell to the lowest reading since April 2009, according to The Conference Board.”

Recently released data on the housing market also showed less strength as well. The S&P/Case-Shiller® National Index fell 5.9 percent between the second quarters of 2010 and 2011, representing the largest yearly decrease since the third quarter of 2009. Moreover, July’s pending sales of existing homes fell at a monthly rate of 1.3 percent, the first decline since April 2011, according to Nothaft.

Additional Information
30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.22 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending September 1, 2011, matching last week when it also averaged 4.22 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.32 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 3.39 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.44 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.83 percent.

5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.96 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.07 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.54 percent.

1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.89 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.93 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.50 percent.

SOURCE: Freddie Mac

With AAOA, landlords have resources at their fingertips. Check out our Landlord Forms page.

American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for landlords related to your rental housing investment, including rental forms, tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.