Mortgage rates moved lower once again, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate setting a new record low of 3.78% this week, according to Bankrate.com. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.43 discount and origination points.
The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate inched downward to 3.04%, while the jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage retreated to 4.43%, both record lows. Adjustable mortgage rates were lower, with the average 5/1 ARM rate falling to 2.89% and the 7/1 adjustable pulling back to 3.05%. Both of those are also record lows.
Weak retail sales were the latest indicator of a flagging economy. While Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gave no indication of further stimulus in his semiannual Congressional testimony, the summer economic swoon gave bond investors all the excuse they needed to continue piling into government and mortgage-backed bonds.
Mortgage rates are closely related to the yields on such bonds.
The last time mortgage rates were above 6% was Nov. 2008. At the time, the average 30-year fixed rate was 6.33%, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 3.78%, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $929.64, a difference of $312 per month for anyone refinancing now.
Source: Bankrate.com
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