The good news just keeps on coming for homebuyers. The only increase in average mortgage rates today was for 30-year fixed jumbo loans, which inched up a mere 0.02%.
After the Federal Reserve recently raised its benchmark federal funds rate, and many banks subsequently bumped their prime rates -- that is, the rates they charge their most creditworthy customers -- experts expected mortgages would begin creeping up. Thankfully for folks shopping for homes, those increases have yet to materialize, and rates remain near historically low levels.
Here are today's average mortgage rates across the U.S., along with where they stood a month ago.
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates Today |
Mortgage Rates 1 month ago |
|---|---|---|
|
30-year fixed jumbo |
4.55% |
4.48% |
|
30-year fixed |
3.99% |
3.99% |
|
15-year fixed |
3.18% |
3.13% |
|
30-year fixed refinance |
4.00% |
4.01% |
|
15-year fixed refinance |
3.20% |
3.18% |
|
5/1 ARM |
3.17% |
3.15% |
|
5/1 ARM refinance |
3.27% |
3.32% |
Data source: Bloomberg. National average rates which may include points.
As inexpensive as mortgages are today, just five years ago, U.S. homebuyers were enjoying even lower rates. For some perspective, here are the rates home buyers could expect five years ago.
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates, March 2012 |
|---|---|
|
30-year fixed |
3.91% |
|
15-year fixed |
3.14% |
|
1-year ARM |
2.78% |
|
5/1 year ARM |
2.84% |
Data source: Freddie Mac. Rates are national averages and do not include points.
For homeowners in search of a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or equity loan, both rates remained relatively stable again today. HELOC and equity loan rates are now 5.19% and 5.29%, respectively. HELOC rates are still below last month's 5.26%, though home equity loans are above March's 5.26%.
