Saturday, January 20, 2018

30-Year Mortgage Rate Charges Above 4 Percent


2018 has started in a similar fashion to how 2017 finished.

The average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate charged to 4.04 percent this week, up from 3.99 percent the week prior, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The 15-year, fixed rate averaged 3.49 percent, up from 3.44 percent the week prior, while the five-year, Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate averaged 3.46 percent, the same as the week prior.

“The U.S. weekly average for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose above 4 percent for the first time since last summer to 4.04 percent in this week’s survey,” says Len Kiefer, deputy chief economist at Freddie Mac. “This is the highest weekly average for the 30-year fixed rate mortgage since May of 2017. Some may be wondering if this is the last time we’ll see a three handle on the 30-year mortgage rate. Never say never, but inflation is firming, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book indicates broad-based economic growth, and labor markets are tightening. This means upward pressure on long-term rates, like the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, is building.”

If rates continue as indicated, the home buying season may come early as potential homebuyers look to jump on the last set of historically low rates. From our perspective; all charts point to several Fed' increases in 2018 and 5% mortgage rates on the horizon.