Mortgage rates moved higher, but not very much, as investors looked past global concerns and took in a better-than-expected jobs report. The employment news validated other improving economic data and interest rates moved higher in response. Mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government bonds. Even though mortgage rates have increased in each of the past three weeks, they've remained in a narrow range since late February, owing to a tug-of-war between better economic news and worries about rising oil prices and overseas events that could upend the economic recovery.
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 5.08 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,083.44, a difference of $158 per month for anyone refinancing now.
SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 5.08% - up from 5.01% last week (avg. points: 0.41)
15-year fixed: 4.27% - up from 4.25% last week (avg. points: 0.43)
5/1 ARM: 3.87% - down from 3.89% last week (avg. points: 0.42)