McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.97 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 4, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.05 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.15 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.33 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.40 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.72 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.11 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.16 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.08 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.27 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.15 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.86 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

"30-year fixed mortgages fell below 5 percent to match levels seen two weeks ago and are helping to maintain affordable home-purchase conditions," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "In fact, monthly principal and interest mortgage payments for a typical family buying a median-priced home of $163,800 were just $709 in January, the lowest amount since February 1998, according to the National Association of Realtors® . For first-time homebuyers, the fourth quarter of 2009 was the third most affordable quarter since 1981 behind the first and second quarter of 2009.

"The federal tax credit for homebuyers, which expires on April 30th, may make housing even more affordable for some families already in the middle of the home buying process. In fact, the Federal Reserve's March 3rd regional economic review noted that several districts attributed stronger home sales to the homebuyer tax credit."

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.05 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 25, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.93 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.07 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.40 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.68 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.16 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.06 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.15 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.23 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.81 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgages followed long-term bond yields higher and rose above 5 percent this week amid a mixed set of economic data reports” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “For instance, the January producer price index jumped well above the market consensus, but the consumer price index remained subdued and consumer confidence declined to the lowest level since April 2009, according to the Conference Board .

“There were also varying reports as to the current state of the housing market. The S&P/Case-Shiller® national home price index rose for the third consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter, albeit at a slower rate, and the 20-city composite index showed an increase in December 2009 for the seventh month in a row; six metropolitan areas experienced positive year-over-year growth, compared to four in November. New home sales, however, unexpectedly slowed in January to the smallest pace since records began in 1963, and the supply of homes at the current sales rate rose to 9.1 months, the most since May 2009.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

Source: FreddieMac; Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®); www.freddiemac.com

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.93 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 18, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.97 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.04 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.33 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.34 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.68 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.12 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.19 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.04 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.23 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.33 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.80 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Mortgage rates eased for the second week, while economic data releases suggest that the housing market may be in a slow state of recovery,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that existing home sales rose in 48 states and the District of Columbia between the third and fourth quarters of 2009; 32 states experienced double-digit growth. In addition, 67 metropolitan areas saw positive annual house price growth in the fourth quarter, more than double that in the third quarter, according to the NAR.

“New home construction is also slowly improving. One-family housing starts rose to an annual pace of 484,000 homes in January, which is up almost 36 percent from January 2009, based on the U.S. Census figures. Moreover, homebuilder assessments of market conditions over the first half of 2010 improved in February, according to National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

Source: FreddieMac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), www.freddiemac.com

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.97 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 11, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.01 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.16 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.34 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.40 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.81 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.19 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.27 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.23 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.33 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.22 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.94 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

"Interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are below 5 percent for a third week this year, which helps a number of homeowners to refinance their existing housing debt" said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "In mid-June of last year, for example, 30-year fixed-mortgage rates topped nearly 5.6 percent. Currently, the monthly payments would be almost $77 per month lower on a $200,000 loan balance.

"In all, more than two out of three mortgage applications were for refinance transactions over the first six weeks of 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association ."

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

Source: FreddieMac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), www.freddiemac.com

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®)in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.01 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 4, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.98 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.25 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.40 percent with an average 0.7 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 4.39 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.92 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.27 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.25 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.26 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 4.22 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.29 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.92 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Mortgage rates remained relatively stable for a second week amid news of a strengthening housing market," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “Residential fixed investment rose for two consecutive quarters over the last half of 2009 following a steady quarterly decline since the beginning of 2006. Pending existing home sales rebounded by 1 percent in December from a record drop in November that was due in part to the original expiration of the homebuyer tax credit, according the National Association of Realtors® . More recently mortgage applications for home purchases jumped 10 percent at the end of January, according to figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association .”

“Even more encouraging news came from the Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey , which reported that banks have generally stopped tightening standards on most types of loans in the fourth quarter of 2009, with commercial real estate as the exception. However, banks have yet to unwind the tightening that occurred over the last two years. Moreover, substantially fewer banks expected credit quality to deteriorate over the coming year.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

Source: FreddieMac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), www.freddiemac.com