30-Year Rate Hits 10-Month Low

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell from 6.18% to 6.14% over the seven-day period ended Nov. 30, its lowest level since the 6.12% recorded during the week ended Jan. 26, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate fell from 5.91% to 5.87%, the average rate for five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages declined from 5.99% to 5.95%, and the average rate for one-year Treasury-indexed ARMs decreased from 5.49% to 5.46%, Freddie Mac reported. Fees and points averaged 0.4 of a point for fixed-rate mortgages and 0.5 of a point for ARMs. "Mortgage rates drifted lower this week, bringing long-term rates to levels below those of this time last year," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. He said mortgage applications for home purchases "remained healthy" in November, due largely to a drop in mortgage rates and "a softening in home prices in some areas." A year ago, the average 30-year and 15-year fixed rates were 6.26% and 5.81%, respectively, and the average hybrid and one-year ARM rates were 5.76% and 5.16%, respectively, Freddie Mac said. Freddie Mac can be found online at http://www.freddiemac.com.