Mortgage rates fell to record lows again this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.45 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.32 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage dropped to 3.87 percent, and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate fell to 5.14 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages also hit new lows, with the average 5-year ARM decreasing to 3.64 percent and the average 7-year ARM falling to 3.88 percent.

Mortgage rates set yet another record low in anticipation that more efforts from the Federal Reserve - known as quantitative easing - are on the way in an effort to juice the economic recovery. Investors expecting lower interest rates to result have been front-running the Fed by purchasing government- and mortgage-backed bonds, driving yields lower. Mortgage rates are dictated by yields on government- and mortgage-backed debt.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At that time, the average rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now at 4.45 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,007.44, a savings of $234 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 4.45% - down from 4.5% last week (avg. points: 0.32)

15-year fixed: 3.87% - down from 3.94% last week (avg. points: 0.30)

5/1 ARM: 3.64% - down from 3.68% last week (avg. points: 0.36)