Primary Mortgage Market Survey Press Release
Long-Term Rates Rise to Over 5 Percent for the First Time in Three Weeks
February 25, 2010
Contact: corprel@freddiemac.com
or (703) 903-3933
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 5.05 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 25, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.93 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.07 percent.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.40 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.68 percent.
The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.16 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.06 percent.
The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.15 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.23 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.81 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 30-year fixed mortgages followed long-term bond yields higher and rose above 5 percent this week amid a mixed set of economic data reports” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “For instance, the January producer price index jumped well above the market consensus, but the consumer price index remained subdued and consumer confidence declined to the lowest level since April 2009, according to the Conference Board.
“There were also varying reports as to the current state of the housing market. The S&P/Case-Shiller® national home price index rose for the third consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter, albeit at a slower rate, and the 20-city composite index showed an increase in December 2009 for the seventh month in a row; six metropolitan areas experienced positive year-over-year growth, compared to four in November. New home sales, however, unexpectedly slowed in January to the smallest pace since records began in 1963, and the supply of homes at the current sales rate rose to 9.1 months, the most since May 2009.”
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. 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 | 5.05 | 0.7 | 4.40 | 0.7 |
| Northeast | 5.12 | 0.5 | 4.47 | 0.6 |
| Southeast | 5.02 | 0.8 | 4.44 | 0.7 |
| N. Central | 5.10 | 0.5 | 4.41 | 0.5 |
| Southwest | 4.96 | 0.7 | 4.34 | 0.6 |
| West | 5.01 | 0.9 | 4.34 | 0.8 |
| Five/One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Commitment Rate | Fees & Points | Margin | |
| US | 4.16 | 0.6 | 2.74 |
| Northeast | 4.43 | 0.5 | 2.71 |
| Southeast | 3.90 | 0.8 | 2.75 |
| N. Central | 4.11 | 0.5 | 2.75 |
| Southwest | 4.07 | 0.6 | 2.76 |
| West | 4.15 | 0.7 | 2.74 |
| One-Year Adjustable-Rate Mortgages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Commitment Rate | Fees & Points | Margin | |
| US | 4.15 | 0.6 | 2.75 |
| Northeast | 4.01 | 0.4 | 2.71 |
| Southeast | 4.00 | 0.8 | 2.75 |
| N. Central | 4.53 | 0.2 | 2.75 |
| Southwest | 4.25 | 0.7 | 2.81 |
| West | 4.10 | 0.9 | 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, MS, 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. In general, the data presented were calculated from information collected Monday through Wednesday of the same week that the PMMS is released and may not reflect mortgage rates, fees or points currently available from any lender. Freddie Mac may change the methodology used to conduct the PMMS 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 December 17, 2009. The new weights use the dollar volume of conventional first-lien mortgage originations within the 1-unit Freddie Mac loan limit as reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) for 2008. The weights are listed in the table below.
| Freddie Mac Region | PMMS Weights |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 26.0 |
| Southeast | 16.7 |
| North Central | 15.9 |
| Southwest | 13.2 |
| West | 28.2 |
Primary Mortgage Market Survey Results
February 25, 2010
| 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | NE | SE | NC | SW | W | |
| Average | 5.05 | 5.12 | 5.02 | 5.10 | 4.96 | 5.01 |
| Fees & Points | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | NE | SE | NC | SW | W | |
| Average | 4.40 | 4.47 | 4.44 | 4.41 | 4.34 | 4.34 |
| Fees & Points | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 5/1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | NE | SE | NC | SW | W | |
| Average | 4.16 | 4.43 | 3.90 | 4.11 | 4.07 | 4.15 |
| Fees & Points | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Margin | 2.74 | 2.71 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.76 | 2.74 |
| 1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | NE | SE | NC | SW | W | |
| Average | 4.15 | 4.01 | 4.00 | 4.53 | 4.25 | 4.10 |
| Fees & Points | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| Margin | 2.75 | 2.71 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.81 | 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 | 5.07 | 4.68 | 5.06 | 4.81 | 4.93 | 4.33 | 4.12 | 4.23 |
| Fees & Points | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Margin | N/A | N/A | 2.71 | 2.75 | N/A | N/A | 2.74 | 2.75 |
