Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Mostly Lower

/PRNewswire/ -- Rates for most mortgage products retreated this week, but not the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage, which remained at 5.15 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.49 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/

The average 15-year fixed mortgage slipped to 4.52 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate fell below the 6 percent mark, to 5.95 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were mixed, with the average 3-year ARM declining to 4.58 percent while the 5-year ARM held at 4.56 percent.

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)



Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next week. More than half of the panelists, 53 percent, expect mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged over the next week. A slightly lower percentage - 40 percent - predict an increase, while just 7 percent forecast a decline in mortgage rates over the same time period.

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