Mortgage Rates Rise for 6th Consecutive Week According to Bankrate.com National Survey

Mortgage Rates Rise for 6th Consecutive Week According to Bankrate.com National Survey

NEW YORK, NY - Mortgage rates increased for a sixth consecutive week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate setting a new 14-month high of 4.14 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.32 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage increased to 3.32 percent, while the larger jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at a 9-month high of 4.32 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages moved higher also. The popular 5-year adjustable rate jumped to 3 percent, the first time at the 3 percent mark since last June. The average 7-year ARM is at 3.24 percent and the 10-year is now 3.58 percent.   

All eyes now turn to the Federal Reserve, with next week holding a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee followed by Ben Bernanke's press conference. Long-term interest rates – to which mortgage rates are closely related - have jumped in recent weeks on speculation that the Fed will decrease the amount of monthly bond-buying stimulus. Where mortgage rates go from here is dependent on what comes out of next week's Fed meeting.

The last time mortgage rates were above 5 percent was Apr. 2011. At the time, the average 30-year fixed rate was 5.07 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,082.22. With the average rate currently at 4.14 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $971.04, a difference of $111 per month for anyone refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 4.14% -- up from 4.10% last week (avg. points: 0.32)
15-year fixed: 3.32% -- up from 3.28% last week (avg. points: 0.28)
5/1 ARM: 3.00% -- up from 2.93% last week (avg. points: 0.29)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to www.bankrate.com

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. The majority of the respondents – 64 percent – expect mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged, while 27 percent predict mortgage rates will pull back. Just 9 percent forecast further increases in mortgage rates in the coming week.

Source: BankRate.com / #Housing #Economy

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