As the economy ekes its way towards recovery, there's good news today for homebuyers: Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell to record lows this week, a trend that is boosting home sales and aiding the housing recovery, reported The Los Angeles Times.
Today, mortgage interest rates edged only slightly above their record lows this week, with lenders offering the 30-year fixed loan at an average of 3.32 percent, the lowest on records dating back to 1971, Freddie Mac said in its latest survey. That number is down from 3.34 percent last week, the previous record low.
"Borrowers would have paid an average of 0.8 percent of the loan amount in upfront lender fees and discount points to obtain the rate," Freddie Mac said. That number is up from an average of 0.7 percent in lender charges for a 3.31 percent 30-year loan in last week's survey, the latest in a long series of record lows set this year, according to the Washington Post.
Popular with re-financers seeking to pay off their loans faster, the 15-year fixed mortgage was offered this week at an average of 2.64 percent and 0.6 percent in lender fees, a number that's just barely up from 2.63 percent and 0.6 percent in fees a week earlier.
Start rates for adjustable loans also experienced little fluctuation in the numbers. The start rate for a hybrid loan that becomes variable after five years fixed was 2.72 percent -- higher than that of the 15-year fixed mortgage, which dropped to 2.63 percent, down from 2.65 percent last week and also a new record, according to the Post.
Interest rates have hit new lows thanks to concerns about the "fiscal cliff," as demand increased for ultra-safe Treasury securities and insured mortgage bonds from Freddie Mac and other government-backed issuers, Freddie Mac economist Frank Nothaft noted.
Right now "home sales and construction are rising, providing a much-needed boost to the economy," said The New York Daily News.
"Home prices are also increasing, which makes consumers feel wealthier and more likely to spend. Lower rates have also persuaded more people to refinance," the publication added.
Monday through Wednesday of every week, Freddie Mac asks mortgage lenders across the country about popular combinations of rates and points they are offering to low-risk borrowers. The survey doesn't include third-party charges often paid by borrowers, such as for title insurance and appraisals.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Mortgage pros say solid borrowers often can find somewhat lower rates than those in the [Freddie Mac] survey by shopping around."