Freddie Mac Weekly Mortgage Update: Rates Inch Up

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.99 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending March 25, 2010, up slightly from last week when it averaged 4.96 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.85 percent.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.34 percent with an average 0.6 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.58 percent.

Five-year indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages ARMs: Averaged 4.14 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.09 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.96 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs: Averaged 4.20 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.85 percent.

Freddie Sayz

Mortgage rates inched up slightly this week as bond yields rose even further, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages, however, were still below 5 percent for the fourth consecutive week.

Household debt burdens on aggregate continue to improve through the end of 2009. The Federal Reserve reported that the financial obligations for homeowners declined to under 16.1 percent of their disposable income in the fourth quarter, which represents the lowest share since the third quarter of 2003. Similarly, the obligations share for renters fell below 24.4 percent, the lowest since the end of 1993.

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