Mortgage rates were mostly lower this week. Economic and financial market jitters continue to hold mortgage rates in check, with little movement in recent weeks. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, in particular, has barely budged over the past month and has settled at 5.15 percent in three of the past four weeks. Should worries about Greece and other European markets abate, both Treasury yields and mortgage rates will rebound somewhat. Mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government 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 5.15 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,092.05, a savings of $150 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.
SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 5.15% - unchanged from last week (avg. points: 0.44)
15-year fixed: 4.52% - down from 4.55% last week (avg. points: 0.44)
5/1 ARM: 4.56% - unchanged from last week (avg. points: 0.34)