Mortgage rates increased for the second week in a row and the third time in the last four weeks. Better economic news and an easing of concerns about a potential Greek debt default spurred this week's move, pushing mortgage rates to a two-month high. Mortgage rate volatility could pick up in the coming weeks as investors grapple with the state of the U.S. economic recovery, quarterly corporate earnings, and a deadline for increasing the debt ceiling.
The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At the time, the average 30-year fixed 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 4.79 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,048.12, a difference of $193 per month for anyone refinancing now.
SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 4.79% - up from 4.71% last week (avg. points: 0.32)
15-year fixed: 3.90% - up from 3.86% last week (avg. points: 0.31)
5/1 ARM: 3.49% - up from 3.45% last week (avg. points: 0.32)