Train Keeps Rolling

In Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending Nov. 22, the 30-year averaged 6.03%. This represents a rise of 9 basis points from last week’s 5.94%, the lowest 30-year since Freddie began tracking it in 1971. Last year at this time, the 30-year averaged 6.75%.

Nationally, the 30-year was highest in the North Central states at 6.13%. The Southwest and West tied for lowest at 5.96%.

This week’s average for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also slightly rose to 5.44% from last week’s 5.32% average. A year ago, the 15-year averaged 6.24%.

The one-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) also increased — 4.14% compared to last week’s 4.09%, the lowest ARM since Freddie began tracking it in 1984.

Mortgage rates slightly moved upward in response to current instability in the financial markets, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie’s chief economist.

“Economic reports are mixed and this will keep mortgage rates bouncing up and down somewhat, probably for the rest of this year,” he said.

More mortgage loan applicants took advantage of last week’s low 30-year rate of 5.94%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA). The MBA’s index of mortgage loan applications, which is reported a week behind Freddie, was 1200.2 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Nov. 15. The prior week came in at 922.3, and 985.8 was reported during this time last year.

Bankrate.com’s weekly poll of mortgage experts revealed that as far as where mortgage rates are going, your guess is as good as theirs. There was no consensus among the experts this week, but Mark Karstrom of Principal Capital Management in Des Moines said high demand and wider spreads will keep rates from going down.Friday midday, the 10-year Treasury note was down 0.1875, raising its yield to 4.17%.