RATES DRIFT LOWER ON REPORTS OF ECONOMIC WEAKNESS; OTHER REPORTS POINT TO PROGRESS IN HOUSING MARKET
McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.40 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending August 28, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 6.47 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.67 percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.93 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.00 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.12 percent.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.03 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.99 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.35 percent.
One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.33 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.29 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.84 percent.
(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)
"Interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages continue to drift down as reports of economic weakness persist. July's leading economic indicators fell by more than the market consensus and manufacturing slowed in both the Philadelphia and Richmond regions. ARM rates, on the other hand, rose slightly after the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee hinted it might increase the overnight bank lending rate in its August 5th minutes," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.
However, the housing front is providing some encouraging signs. The pace of home price declines slowed down for the fourth straight month in June and the number of metro areas exhibiting monthly gains rose from seven to nine, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller® 20-city composite index. There are also signs more buyers may be getting ready to return to the market. The Conference Board says the share of households planning to buy a home within six months is now at its highest level since March. At the same time, the supply for unsold new homes is down to 10.1 months, the lowest since February, as single-family existing homes (excluding condos and co-ops) start to sell more quickly. Although, when condos and co-ops are included, the resale inventory did edge up."
Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac raises capital on Wall Street and throughout the world's capital markets to finance mortgages for families across America. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.
SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS
| Fixed-Rate Mortgages |
| |
Average Conventional 30-Year Commitment Rate |
Fees & Points |
Average Conventional 15-Year Commitment Rate |
Fees & Points |
| US |
6.40 |
0.6 |
5.93 |
0.6 |
| Northeast |
6.43 |
0.5 |
5.96 |
0.5 |
| Southeast |
6.36 |
0.7 |
5.95 |
0.6 |
| N. Central |
6.43 |
0.5 |
5.96 |
0.5 |
| Southwest |
6.46 |
0.5 |
6.01 |
0.5 |
| West |
6.39 |
0.8 |
5.87 |
0.8 |
| Five/One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages |
| |
First Commitment Rate |
Fees & Points |
Margin |
| US |
6.03 |
0.6 |
2.74 |
| Northeast |
5.96 |
0.6 |
2.75 |
| Southeast |
6.02 |
0.7 |
2.75 |
| N. Central |
6.22 |
0.3 |
2.75 |
| Southwest |
6.19 |
0.4 |
2.77 |
| West |
5.96 |
0.6 |
2.72 |
| One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages |
| |
First Commitment Rate |
Fees & Points |
Margin |
| US |
5.33 |
0.7 |
2.75 |
| Northeast |
5.31 |
0.6 |
2.75 |
| Southeast |
5.42 |
1.1 |
2.75 |
| N. Central |
5.46 |
0.5 |
2.75 |
| Southwest |
5.79 |
0.4 |
2.80 |
| West |
5.08 |
0.7 |
2.73 |
Freddie Mac defines its regions as follows:
Northeast: NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT
Southeast: NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, FL, PR, VI, MS
North Central: OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, ND, SD
Southwest: TX, LA, NM, OK, AR, MO, KS, CO, NE, WY
West: CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, UT, ID, MT, HI, AK, GU
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is for informational purposes only and Freddie Mac is not responsible for business decisions made based on the reported results of the PMMS. Freddie Mac may change the methodology used to conduct the PMMS survey at any time and without notice.
DEFINITIONS
Commitment Rate is the interest rate a lender would charge to lend mortgage money to a qualified borrower exclusive of the fees and points required by the lender. This commitment rate applies only to conventional financing on conforming mortgages with loan-to-value rates of 80 percent or less.
ARM Index - is the One-year Treasury
Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) is the ratio of the loan amount of a mortgage loan to the lower of the appraisal value or purchase price of the property securing the loan.
Origination Fees and Discount Points are the total charged by the lender at settlement. One point equals one percent of the loan amount.
Margin is a fixed amount added to the underlying index to establish the fully indexed rate for an ARM.
Weighted Averages for the Primary Mortgage Market Survey have been adjusted as of October 18, 2007. The new weights use the dollar volume of conventional mortgage originations within the 1-unit Freddie Mac loan limit as reported under Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) for 2006. The weights are listed in the table below.
| Freddie Mac Region |
PMMS Weights |
| Northeast |
23.9 |
| Southeast |
20.4 |
| North Central |
14.3 |
| Southwest |
11.0 |
| West |
30.3 |
PRIMARY MORTGAGE MARKET SURVEY RESULTS
August 28, 2008
| 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages |
| |
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
| Average |
6.40 |
6.43 |
6.36 |
6.43 |
6.46 |
6.39 |
| Fees & Points |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
| 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages |
| |
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
| Average |
5.93 |
5.96 |
5.95 |
5.96 |
6.01 |
5.87 |
| Fees & Points |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
| 5/1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages |
| |
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
| Average |
6.03 |
5.96 |
6.02 |
6.22 |
6.19 |
5.96 |
| Fees & Points |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
| 1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages |
| |
US |
NE |
SE |
NC |
SW |
W |
| Average |
5.33 |
5.31 |
5.42 |
5.46 |
5.79 |
5.08 |
| Fees & Points |
0.7 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
| The National Mortgage Rate Snapshot |
| |
One Year Ago |
One Week Ago |
| |
30-YR |
15-YR |
5/1-YR |
1-YR ARM |
30-YR |
15-YR |
5/1-YR |
1-YR ARM |
| Average |
6.45 |
6.12 |
6.35 |
5.84 |
6.47 |
6 |
5.99 |
5.29 |
| Fees & Points |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
|