Monday, June 30, 2008

Mortgages Rise Slightly

WASHINGTON -- Home-mortgage rates drifted up this week, with adjustable-rate mortgages climbing the most, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

While fixed-rate mortgages changed little leading up to the Federal Reserve policy committee meeting, "ARM rates, which are typically tied to short-term instruments, rose slightly due to market uncertainty over how the Fed might respond," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.45% for the week ended June 26, up from last week's 6.42%. The mortgage averaged 6.67% a year ago; the last time the 30-year was higher was the week ended Aug. 23, when it averaged 6.52%.

Fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgages also rose slightly, averaging 6.04%, up from last week's 6.02% and the year-ago 6.34%.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 5.99%, up from last week's 5.89% but below the year-earlier 6.3%. One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs were 5.27%, up from last week's 5.19%. The ARM averaged 5.65% a year ago.

A separate survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association, released Wednesday, showed mortgage applications fell a seasonally adjusted 9.3% last week, compared with the week before.



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