30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 5.09 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 7, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.14 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.01 percent.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.50 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.54 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.62 percent.
Five-year indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages ARMs: Averaged 4.44 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, unchanged from last week when it averaged 4.44 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.49 percent.
One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs: Averaged 4.31 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.95 percent.
Freddie Sayz
Mortgage rates eased slightly this week after rising consecutively through December, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Current interest rates for fixed rate mortgages are just about at their annual average for 2009, while ARM rates are considerably below their averages for last year. As the economy strengthens further and the Federal Reserve (Fed) decides to raise its overnight target rate, ARM rates will follow suit because they are typically tied to shorter-term interest rates. However, the federal funds futures market does not anticipate any Fed action until the second half of 2010
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