But ARM Rates Are Lower

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.86 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending May 14, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 4.84 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.01 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.52 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.51 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.60 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.82 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.90 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.57 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.71 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.78 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.18 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages were little changed this week following the release of April’s employment figures,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “The economy lost 539,000 jobs, less than the monthly job loss of the past five months, and the unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent. ARM rates, however, fell slightly over the period.

“Relatively low house prices and interest rates are clearly helping first-time homebuyers. Housing affordability for the median first-time buyer reached an all-time record high in the first quarter since the NAR index began in 1981. Consequently, first-time homebuyers accounted for half of existing home sales in the first three months of this year, the NAR reported.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.