Mortgage Rates Mostly Hold Steady This Week

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013Mortgage rates mostly remain unchanged this week from last week, staying low and keeping home buyer affordability high, Freddie Mac reports in its mortgage market survey. 

"Mortgage rates were flat to down a little this week amid reports that inflation remains contained,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. 

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Jan. 17: 

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.38 percent, with an average 0.7 point, dropping from last week’s 3.40 average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.88 percent. The record low for 30-year rates is 3.31 percent, set on Nov. 21, 2012. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.66 percent, with an average 0.7 point, holding the same as last week. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.17 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.67 percent, with an average 0.6 point, holding the same as last week. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.82 percent. 
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.57 percent, with an average 0.4 point, dropping from last week’s 2.60 percent average. Last year at this time, 1-year ARMs averaged 2.74 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac
Mortgage Rates Mostly Hold Steady This Week