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For Immediate Release

January 29, 2009
Contact: corprel@freddiemac.com
or (703) 903-3933

 

MORTGAGE RATES HOLD STEADY ACCORDING TO FREDDIE MAC'S WEEKLY SURVEY

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 5.10 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 29, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.12 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.68 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.80 percent with an average 0.7 point, unchanged last week when it averaged 4.80 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.17 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.27 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.24 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.32 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.90 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.92 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.05 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

"Mortgage rates held steady this week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "The index of leading indicators rose 0.3 percent in December, the first increase in 6 months, fueled by an expansion in the money supply. However, the Federal Reserve acknowledged in its January 28th policy committee statement that since December the economy has weakened further.

"Both the S&P/Case-Shiller® 20-city composite index, which registered an 18 percent annual decline through November, and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) sales data, down 15 percent in December from a year ago, indicate sharply lower house prices across many U.S. metropolitan areas. At the same time, interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages reached a 50-year low toward the end of December. These two factors contributed to housing affordability reaching its highest level since 1973, as measured by the NAR's monthly affordability index and help to explain the 7.0 percent increase in existing home sales in December."

Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to support homeownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac purchases single-family and multifamily residential mortgages and mortgage-related securities, which it finances primarily by issuing mortgage-related securities and debt instruments in the capital markets. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible more than 50 million times, ensuring financing for one in six homebuyers and more than four 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 5.10 0.7 4.80 0.7
Northeast 5.18 0.6 4.84 0.6
Southeast 5.14 0.8 4.85 0.8
N. Central 5.09 0.6 4.81 0.6
Southwest 5.06 0.6 4.85 0.6
West 5.03 0.8 4.71 0.9

Five/One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
  First Commitment Rate Fees & Points Margin
US 5.27 0.6 2.74
Northeast 5.12 0.4 2.72
Southeast 5.20 0.7 2.75
N. Central 5.30 0.6 2.75
Southwest 5.42 0.5 2.77
West 5.38 0.6 2.72

One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
  First Commitment Rate Fees & Points Margin
US 4.90 0.6 2.76
Northeast 4.42 0.7 2.74
Southeast 5.18 0.6 2.75
N. Central 5.25 0.8 2.75
Southwest 5.23 0.4 2.82
West 4.78 0.5 2.75

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
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
January 29, 2009

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages
  US NE SE NC SW W
Average 5.10 5.18 5.14 5.09 5.06 5.03
Fees & Points 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.8

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages
  US NE SE NC SW W
Average 4.80 4.84 4.85 4.81 4.85 4.71
Fees & Points 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.9

5/1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages
  US NE SE NC SW W
Average 5.27 5.12 5.20 5.30 5.42 5.38
Fees & Points 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.6
Margin 2.74 2.72 2.75 2.75 2.77 2.72

1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages
  US NE SE NC SW W
Average 4.90 4.42 5.18 5.25 5.23 4.78
Fees & Points 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.5
Margin 2.76 2.74 2.75 2.75 2.82 2.75


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 5.48 4.95 5.13 4.99 5.12 4.80 5.24 4.92
Fees & Points 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7
Margin N/A N/A 2.76 2.75 N/A N/A 2.74 2.76



© 2009 Freddie Mac