Fixed Rates Inch Up

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose from 6.11% to 6.12% over the seven-day period ended Dec. 14, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate rose from 5.84% to 5.86%, the average rate for five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages was unchanged at 5.92%, and the average rate for one-year Treasury-indexed ARMs increased from 5.43% to 5.45%, Freddie Mac reported. Fees and points averaged 0.4 of a point for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, 0.5 of a point for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, 0.6 of a point for hybrid ARMs, and 0.8 of a point for one-year ARMs. "Mixed economic reports have kept mortgage rates from making any drastic changes this week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "On the upside, there was stronger job growth and greater-than-expected retail sales in November. Offsetting that news was weaker wage growth in that same time frame and lower indications of consumer sentiment in December." A year ago, the average 30-year and 15-year fixed rates were 6.30% and 5.85%, respectively, and the average hybrid and one-year ARM rates were 5.77% and 5.15%, respectively, Freddie Mac said. Freddie Mac can be found online at http://www.freddiemac.com.