Following nine straight weeks of declines, this week's increase puts mortgage rates back to where they were the last week in May. The turnaround wasn't spurred by economic news that was any better. It just wasn't any worse. Further, the release of producer and consumer price measures for the month of May show inflation isn't going away despite lower commodity prices. This is likely to put a floor under mortgage rates, pending any evidence of continued economic weakening.
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 4.71 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,038.48, a difference of $203 per month for anyone refinancing now.
SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 4.71% - up from 4.65% last week (avg. points: 0.41)
15-year fixed: 3.86% - up from 3.79% last week (avg. points: 0.36)
5/1 ARM: 3.40% - up from 3.35% last week (avg. points: 0.33)