The 15-year fixed rate mortgage last week averaged 4.29 percent with an average 0.6 points, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.32 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.74 percent. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage has never been this low since Freddie Mac started tracking it in 1991.
“Long-term mortgage rates eased for the fourth consecutive week to record levels,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.” Interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgage loans tied an all-time record low while both 15-year fixed mortgages and 5-year ARMs broke their corresponding records. Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans are currently 0.8 percentage points below this year’s peak set in mid-June, which shaves roughly $100 off the monthly payments on a $200,000 mortgage.
“Nashville house prices are slowly beginning to firm now. For instance, annual house price declines slowed for the sixth consecutive month in September, down only 3 percent, and represented the smallest decline since February 2008, according the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s purchase-only house price index.”
December 7, 2009, 5:42 pm