Tag Archives: Freddie Mac

Better Days Ahead for Housing

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According to Freddie Mac, better days are ahead for the housing market.

Chief economist for Freddie Mac, Frank Nothaft, is optimistic that the housing market and the economy will improve in the second half of the year.

Nothaft predicts that mortgage rates will remain at historical lows of between 4.5 and 5 percent for the remainder of 2011. That being said, he also expects more buyers to stop waiting on the sidelines as recent price drops in home prices have improved affordability.

Some potential buyers are apprehensive to purchase until they have clear signs of an improved market and economy. Nothaft says that these buyers should be getting their signs in the second half of the year, with protected job gains, and a growing, improved economy.

“Even though near-term concerns over income and sales growth are restraining consumer spending, business hiring, and new building, a number of positive signs in the economy indicate that growth will continue and is likely to accelerate in the second half of this year,” Nothaft said. “Look for a gradual improvement in housing activity in the coming year.”

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Mortgage Rates Continue to Drop

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Freddie Mac, the government-run mortgage agency that surveys the market each week, announced that mortgage rates fell again this week…continuing to set record lows. 

The average price of a 30-year mortgage dropped to 4.42% from 4.44%.  This time last year, the mortgage rate was 5.12%, which was low at the time.

Amazingly, you can get a 15-year fixed-rate loan for under 4% — 3.90% this week, which is down from last week’s rate of 3.92%. This time last year, the same loan cost 4.56%.

Rates for 30-year Fixed Mortgages Fall to Lowest Level on Record

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Last week, mortgage rates fell to the lowest level on record. 

Mortgage company Freddie Mac said on Thursday June 24 that the average rate for 30-year fixed loans sank to 4.69 percent, from 4.75 percent the previous week.

This is the lowest since rate on 30-year fixed mortgages we’ve seen since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971. The previous record of 4.71 percent was set in December 2009.

Rates for 15-year and five-year mortgages also hit lows. Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to an average of 4.13 percent, the lowest on records dating to September 1991 and down from 4.2 percent a week earlier.  Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 3.84 percent, down from 3.89 percent a week earlier. That was also the lowest on Freddie Mac’s records, which only date back to January 2005.

Government Unveils New Mortgage Assistance

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The Obama Administration is sending more help to the housing market. 

 

On Monday, a new government program was revealed that will help support local and state finance agencies.  The plan will help finance mortgages for first-time homebuyers and also create more properties that will be available for rent. 

 

Recently, these agencies have had a difficult time raising money due to the credit crunch and the state of the housing market.  These agencies have sold about $4 billion in tax-exempt bonds this year.  This number is down from the past which is putting a limit on the amount of loans they can make. 

 

The new plan from the Obama Administration will use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help alleviate some pressure on credit.  Together, the companies will package their mortgages and sell them as bonds to the treasury department. 

 

“It’s an additional layer of assistance to borrowers who are seeking a mortgage at a time when credit is scarce,” said Howard Glaser, a mortgage industry consultant in Washington. “It doesn’t solve all the problems of the housing market, but every little bit helps.”

Low Mortgage Rates Helping Stabilize Housing Market

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house-with-money-inside1Freddie Mac has recently released the results of the Primary Mortgage Survey that shows the 30-year fixed mortgage average at 5.14%.  At this time last year, the 30 year fixed mortgage averaged 6.4%.  The 15-year mortgage average for this week averaged 4.58%, and last year the 15-year was at 5.93%.  Five year adjustable rate mortgage averaged 4.67%, which has also been steadily decreasing.

 

“Long-term mortgage rates were barely changed this week, remaining historically low, which is helping to sustain a high level of affordability in the home-purchase market,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  

 

Low rates contributed to existing home sales rising for the fourth consecutive month to an annual pace of 5.24 million in July, the most since August 2007, according to the National Association of Realtors®.  Similarly, new home sales rose for the fourth month in a row to 0.4 million, the strongest pace since September 2008, the Commerce Department reported.  The sales gain helped to reduce the number of new unsold houses on the market to the lowest amount since March 1993.  In addition, house prices in June rose nationally for the second consecutive month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s purchase-only house price index.