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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

How to find the best mortgage rates

Shopping online for mortgage rates and refinancing solutions can be quite a pleasant experience. First of all, we are talking about searching from the comfort of your own home and having access to numerous resources. Nevertheless, you have to understand that the Internet is filled with websites that promise the lowest mortgage rates. You have to choose a website that presents clear and comprehensive information, saving a lot of time and effort on the long run.
If you are interested to compare mortgage rates, then there is no better place than the Internet. Using specialized websites such as Lender411.com, you can search for current mortgage rates on home purchase, refinance and home equity loans. The information is presented for in an easy-to-understand fashion. Mortgage rates are probably the most important aspect when it comes to taking out a loan. This is why you need a professional resource, offering access to reputable and qualified lenders. In fact, you can even have lenders compete for your loan. How great is that?
When it comes to finding the best mortgage rates, you need all the help you can get. Lender411.com offers hundreds of articles on how to get the best mortgage rate on the web and choose the right lender. There are also several mortgage calculators that you can use as well plus an entire mortgage library at your disposal. All of these tools are meant to improve the search process and help you find the lowest mortgage rates. Thus, you can use them to locate today’s mortgage rates in Florida, Arizona, Texas or any other state for that matter.
There are several types of home loans: home purchase, refinance and home equity being the major three. They all could have different rates and you can use the calculators to compare them rapidly. You have the opportunity to compare between different mortgage options, deciding which one is the best for you. The monthly payment mortgage calculator allows you to figure out such payments based on several factors: loan information (amount, interest rate and length of the loan in years), home value, annual taxes and hazard insurance. The result is the total mortgage payment, with the lowest mortgage rates.
In conclusion, current mortgage rates can be discovered with the aid of specialized resources presented online. Be sure to take full advantage of all the information presented to you and use the mortgage calculators to find the lowest mortgage rates. Consider the Internet as a useful source of information, as it truly is and compare mortgage rates from various lenders. You will find this type of shopping to be particularly interesting!

French mortgages



Fortunately for you, the Internet has become a great source of information when it comes to overseas mortgages. You can now read all about French mortgages and those established in other countries like Spain, Italy or Portugal. The regulations and financing solutions offered depend according to the country and thus you need to be informed in order to take the best decision. A mortgage calculator is particularly useful for those who want to calculate mortgage payments and thus decide which offer is the best.
The important thing to understand is that you have several mortgage types to choose from, each posing different advantages. If you are new at this and you are interested in a particular type of mortgage, then you can definitely use the assistance of a professional mortgage finder and a rate comparison service. You cannot even begin to consider how easy is to find a property for sale in the south of France or wherever you want, all thanks to such specialized mortgage companies. They offer detailed information on the best mortgage and remortgage financing solutions, highlighting the ones that are most advantageous. The first step towards finding out the information you need is requesting a remortgage quote. Next, depending on your needs and interests, you will be given experienced financial advice from mortgage lenders. Many people choose France due to the casual lifestyle, high rate of living and many attractions posed by this country. They show their interest for French mortgages and search for a property for sale in south of France (they say it’s splendid out there). Thus, it’s only natural that they want the lowest possible mortgage rates. Well, thanks to specialized mortgage companies, they can now have their dream property in southern France or any other place for that matter. Asking for a remortgage quote for a French mortgage will probably get you competitive rates. That affirmation is especially valid for first time buyers. Professional lenders want to make the buying experience as pleasant as possible, offering the advantage of property finder France. You should not be worried about taking out your first loan, especially if you consider using it for a property for sale in Brittany France. First time buyers are particularly attracted by best fixed rate mortgages, posing several benefits. If you are unsure about all that and you are not certain which mortgage is the best, then feel free to use the Internet and ask for additional information. Don’t settle for the first property that you see and search for the best possible terms. After all, you’re looking for property sales in France, one of the most beautiful countries in the world! You need to find your dream home and afford to purchase it!

Mortgage and life insurance

Mortgage life insurance:
It is the assurance that your home stays in your family after your death. This is important to most people with children. If you die, then the insurance money from the broker independent insurance life mortgage will go toward paying off your home. This is really only relevant while you are still paying off your home. A lot of mortgage life insurance leads will allow you to transfer your insurance to a regular life insurance plan once this happens. When looking into getting a life insurance mortgage, there are a few things that you need to consider.

The first step you need to take is to find a company that specialized in insurance policies. Then, you can request for a life insurance quote and discover additional details regarding various policies. Wanting to suit a wide range of customers and take care of their needs, these professionals have started to diversify the insurance policies offered. Today, you can choose term life insurance (increasing or decreasing term) and add the critical illness plan as an extra option.

Reading the term life insurance information presented on the Internet will make you understand what type of policy suits you best. If you are looking to use the policy to pay off mortgage payments, then the best thing you can do is discuss with one of the specialists. They have both the experience and necessary knowledge to explain term life insurance policies, having dealt before with all types of insurance. The Internet is indeed useful to compare term versus permanent life insurance but you can definitely benefit from the assistance of a professional advisor.
Life insurance has become an important concept in the past few years, as more and more people have realized the advantages derived from having such a policy. After reading all about term life insurance premiums, it’s highly important that you decide which life cover is mostly beneficial. Remember, you also have various cover options to choose from. Consider level term insurance, where a specified sum is paid in case death occurs. The advantage of this type of policy comes from the sum remaining constant throughout the entire period of the insurance. Decreasing term life insurance is more suitable for those who want to pay off mortgage payments or loans, with the amount of debt decreasing every year.
Term life insurance premiums depend on several factors, starting with the sum the policy is taken on, period of the cover, age, sex and even smoking. Women have a longer lifespan and thus, the term life insurance premium will be lower. All term life insurance policies have an entire range of additional options, which indeed will increase the level of the cover but also the overall value of the premium. Consider all the benefits of term life insurance versus whole life, discuss it all with a specialist and then decide. Be sure to inquire about waiver of premium, additional options and guaranteed premiums. There are several types of term insurance policies and you have the right to be informed on each and every one of them. Don’t overlook the advantages a life insurance policy can bring to you!

Comparing Mortgage Rates

Are there disadvantages to shopping around and getting free mortgage quotes? There are disadvantages to everything, but the up side to comparing mortgage quotes far outweighs any down sides. The disadvantage that you'll hear most often is that checking with too many lenders can damage your credit score. Many lenders will tell you that this is more myth than fact, but there is some truth to it. Here's how shopping around for a mortgage quote is supposed to damage your credit rating:
Every time you ask for a mortgage quote, the lender asks for your credit report to check your credit score so that they can evaluate you as a lender and offer you a rate based on your credit score. However, one of the things that is counted when calculating your credit score is the number of times that your credit report has been accessed by lenders recently. If you've applied for many credit cards and loans in a short period of time, it can lower your credit score as lenders assume that you're taking on a lot of debt or searching frantically for money.
A canny lender can tell the difference between someone applying for multiple loans and a savvy shopper searching for their best deal on a mortgage. Most lenders would prefer to lend to a borrower who does their homework. You can also minimize any damage to your credit rating by asking lenders to do a “quotation check” on your credit report. A quotation check is not recorded as a loan application on your credit report, and has no effect on it.
With that in mind, the only real limit on the number of quotations you ask for when shopping for the best mortgage rate is your time and patience. You can cut down on the amount of work you have to do by using an online mortgage quote comparison site, or a mortgage broker. The online comparison site will generally have you fill out a short application, and then send your application to up to five local lenders who will contact you about your needs. A mortgage broker will take a commission or a fee for finding the right loan for you, but may be aware of which lenders are most likely to offer you a good interest rate.

In the end, the choice is yours. There is very little reason to limit yourself to one or two mortgage quotes and about 40,000 reasons to shop around for as many quotes as possible.

Mortgage Quotes

Comparison shopping is the key to getting the best price at just about anything you can name. Why is it, then, that people who will hit five different stores to get the best deal on a $500 computer are afraid to comparison shop when they're making the most important purchase of their lives? If you're in the market for a home, comparison shopping for your mortgage is the single most important thing you can do to cut your costs. When you're dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars and up to forty years, a fraction of a percentage point in interest payments can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

How much you can save by shopping around for mortgage quotes

Because the 'prime lending rate' is easily available in the newspaper, online and at banks, people make the assumption that there is a standard lending rate. The fact of the matter is that every lender has its own standards for evaluating borrowers. While larger lenders and 'safe' lenders like banks may offer most of their loans at the same rate to people with specific credit scores, many non-traditional lenders are far more flexible with their lending rates. In addition, since every lender has their own 'preferred' lender profile, the same borrower may see variances as high as .5% between lenders. One half of one percent may not seem like much, but those tenths of a point add up over the life of a forty year mortgage. How much? Take a look:

EXAMPLE:

$250,000 mortgage over 40 years


Interest Rate Monthly Payment Total Repayment

5.75% $1,332.22 $639,465.60
5.25% $1,247.18 $598,646.40
0.50% $85.04 $ 40,819.20

In other words, one half of one percent can save you $85 a month, or a total of nearly $41,000 over the life of the loan. Imagine what you could do with $1,000 a year? The monthly savings is only a start, though. If you take that $85 and put it into savings or investments at a mere 6.5% per month, at the end of forty years, you'll own your house outright, and you'll have $ 196,260.25 in savings.
Convinced of the value of shopping around for the best interest rate? Then let's talk about how to effectively shop for the best mortgage interest rate.

Reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage:

It is also called life time mortgage is a loan available to seniors, and is used to release the home equity in the property as one lump sum or multiple payments. The homeowner's obligation to repay the loan is deferred until the owner dies, the home is sold, or the owner leaves (e.g., into aged care).Reverse mortgage is the answer to financial problems faced by senior citizens. One can use reverse mortgage loans to pay the bills when social security and pension cannot. It is available in many countries including UK and USA and is becoming increasingly popular worldwide.
Reverse mortgage is a loan advance that can be availed only by a senior citizen. To avail a reverse mortgage one has to own a house of some value, which should ideally be the main residence of that person. The house should not be under mortgage or even if it is under mortgage it should be almost paid off for the house to be eligible under reverse mortgage loan. In a regular mortgage you have to pay the lender but for reverse mortgage, the lender will pay you instead. You can choose to have your loan amount in installments, in lump some amount or a combination of both. Since the lender pays you, your equity in your own house reduces.
The loan amount obtained through a reverse mortgage depends on a range of factors including the value of the property, the interest rates prevailing in the market and closing costs. The lender also considers the age of a borrower when the reverse mortgage amount is decided. The amount of reverse mortgage a person is entitled to receive increases with his age. If the borrower were to die his or her family would get the rest of the reverse mortgage amount loan and the bank would sell the house. At times, it is even possible for the family to buy back the house or property if they want, that depends on the deed signed by the borrower.
Reverse mortgage is very beneficial for senior citizens if they need an extra source of income since it would be very difficult for them to work at their age. The loan amount is usually tax-free so you do not have to worry about taxes. One does not need to go to a bank if they want a reverse mortgage, they can either call an advisor from a financial institute or fill up an online form for the mortgage loan. One can easily successfully apply for the loan online and have the loan amount transferred to their account.
Besides banks and other credit institutes non-profit organizations also offer reverse mortgage loans. One should be careful while selecting this kind of mortgage scheme since there are fraudulent financial companies that can defraud you. There are various types of reverse mortgage loans available in the market. You should take your time to explore all the options before choosing one for yourself. It would be best if you take a financial expert’s advice before you sign for a reverse mortgage.
In a regular mortgage the homeowner makes a monthly payment to the lender but in case of reverse mortgage the owner is paid a monthly payment or a bulk payment. This kind of loan is available in many countries including UK and USA. Reverse mortgage enables senior citizens to use their home equity in supplementing their income.

Home purchase in California





Every body knows that buying a home is very complex process,for both a first-time home buyer or a veteran. Buying a home in California does not have to be the most awful experience in your life. On the contrary, it can be quite pleasant if you know where to turn. The Internet contains perhaps hundreds of specialized companies in California home mortgage loan but you should find the one that suits your interest best. Discover the best California mortgage rates by filling out a brief form. You will have to select the type of loan (home purchase), the property state (California) and choose a property type (single-family, multi-family, condominium and townhouse).
If this is the first time you consider a home purchase in California, then you will definitely find the assistance offered as helpful. A professional mortgage resource can represent everything you need to locate the best California home mortgage loan. By working with reputed lenders and taking advantage of the latest technology, these professionals know how to offer potential customers the lowest California mortgage rates. Upon the completion of the form mentioned above, four lenders will contact the potential home buyer to discuss more on the subject. One can also take full advantage of the comparison service offered for California mortgage rates, finding the best interest rates.
We can all agree that purchasing a new home can be somewhat daunting. This is why it is important to set clear goals from the beginning and take into consideration several factors. First of all, set a price range and then start considering a home purchase in California. As you know, this state is home to many property hot spots but there are still affordable purchases to be made. Think about your income, existing debts, down payment and of course, your credit history. If you want to qualify for a California home mortgage loan, then all these things matter. Thus, you will need to obtain a pre-approval certificate, attesting your ability to make a home purchase in California. The final steps include locating an exact property, making an offer and upon accepting protecting your interest rate from fluctuations (lock-in).
The online form also contains an additional set of questions. You will have to specify whether you are looking for a specific home purchase in California, the use of the property (primary residence, second/vacation home or investment), if you are a first-time buyer and purchase price. They all need to know estimated down payment and type of rate (fixed, adjustable or option ARM).
As you can certainly see, the Internet has become a point of attraction for those who want to search and compare California mortgage rates. Professional companies put user-friendly search tools to the disposal of their clients. One will start by selecting the state, moving on to the purpose of the California home mortgage loan (home purchase) and loan amount. The final information regards the type of loan (fixed, adjustable or interest-only) plus the type of interest. If you want the lowest California mortgage rates, make sure you fill in all this information with increased attention!

.A Bad Credit Mortgage

1. Shop around beyond the banks.

Banks are traditionally "safe" lenders. They don't take chances with their money, and lower credit scores are risky. While they'd started taking chances as the housing market exploded, the sub-prime mortgage collapse has sent them skittering back to their safe little ledge.
There are exceptions, though. If you have a long-term relationship with your bank and maintain multiple accounts with them, by all means check with your banker first. You may get consideration based on your history with the bank despite other credit snafus. Most people, however, will do better with finance companies and mortgage companies.

2. Increase your available down payment.

Lenders may be willing to make a loan to someone with lesser credit if they are seeking a smaller loan. The best way to reduce the amount that you need to borrow is to provide a larger down payment amount. If you can put down 10-20% of the total house price as a down payment, most lenders will take you far more seriously.

One of the recommended strategies for raising the amount of your down payment is to borrow or get it as a gift from family or friends. Be aware that many lenders are now looking at how long you've had that down payment money when they do credit checks. Obviously, money that you've saved is evidence that you're able to manage money, and will be a persuasive argument to lenders that you're a better credit risk than your credit score suggests. On the other hand, a large enough down payment may bring you down to a monthly payment that the lender is comfortable offering.

3. Get multiple quotes for a bad credit mortgage.

Another part of shopping around is comparing interest rates and terms. The best way to do that is to get quotes from several different finance companies, but there is a danger in doing that – multiple requests for your credit report can put a ding in your credit rating and make it even harder to get a loan. When you contact a finance company to ask about a loan, make it clear to them that you are shopping for the best possible interest rate and ask them to do a quote credit check, which will show up differently on your credit report than a full credit check.

Don't get discouraged if you can't get even a bad credit mortgage right now. Talk to the lenders about how to improve your credit score in the eyes of their company. In many cases, you can follow their advice and reapply in as little as four months with better results.

A Bad Credit Mortgage

After the home prices turned down:

Then the many renters are looking longingly at the real estate listings and wishing that they'd paid more attention to their credit rating. After several years of real estate BOOM, the bubble seems to have burst – or at least started to deflate. In May, the median single family home price in Boston was an astounding 12% lower than just one year earlier, and that trend was reflected around the country. While that's bad news for anyone who bought their home a year ago with the expectation of turning a profit, the falling price of real estate is very good news for those who have been waiting for prices to come down.
If you've been weighing the difference in price between renting and buying, the market has shifted enough in favor of buyers that the time to buy is now. Interest prices are down as the Feds try to stimulate the economy and encourage people to buy. Home prices are down as sellers have their homes revalued for the realities of the current market and willingly accept far less than they would have last year at this time. When you combine the two, you'll find that the cost of a mortgage PLUS taxes is actually less than what you're paying in rent.
Unfortunately, there's another reality at work in the falling market prices as well. New regulations surrounding the sub-prime mortgage market and the recent rise in defaulted mortgages and foreclosures have made lenders more wary of handing out bad credit mortgages – and made it far harder for prospective home buyers to secure any mortgage at all.
The meaning of "bad credit mortgage" has changed significantly in the new home buying market, with a 'bad credit rating' being considerably higher than it used to be.

Important things to remeber

The amount that you can borrow is determined by the amount of equity you have.

The equity you have in your home is the difference between the amount that your home is worth and the amount that you still owe on your mortgage. Here's a quick example to help you understand.

Suppose you bought a house for $200,000, and put down a down payment of $20,000. The day that your mortgage closes, your home equity is the same as your down payment - $200,000 (home value) - $180,000 (amount owed on mortgage) = $20,000 (equity). Now imagine that five years have passed, and you've made your payments faithfully. You've paid down $13,000 on your mortgage, and now owe $167,000 on it. Your home's value has increased to $250,000. Your home equity is now $250,000 (home value) - $167,000 (amount owned on mortgage) = $83,000.

Depending on your credit and the housing market, you may find lenders who are willing to lend you up to 125% of your home equity, but it's more common for them to lend 60-80% of home equity. Thus, with $83,000 in equity, you may be able to borrow from $49,800 to $103,750.

The interest rate that you'll be offered is dependent on your credit rating.

As with any other loan, the interest rate on your second mortgage will depend on how good your credit rating is. The better your credit rating, the lower your interest rate will be. You can affect that interest rate by taking the time to clean up your credit before starting to look for a second mortgage.

Shopping around for second mortgage rates is always a good idea.

Don't just take the first second mortgage that you're offered, though. Every lender has different ways of factoring in credit ratings and other factors, so it's definitely to your benefit to shop around and get several loan quotes before making a decision.

It can take several weeks to get a second mortgage approval, but there are ways you can speed up the process.

One of the best things you can do in the interests of speeding up the process of loan approval is to get your own home appraisal before applying for a second mortgage. It's not foolproof, but many lenders will happily take your expert's appraisal rather than pay for one of their own.

Important things to remeber

A Secure Lending:

Ads for second mortgages don't always make it clear that they are secured loans. That may sound good, but the security isn't for you - it's for the bank. When you take out a second mortgage, you are promising the lender that if you can't make the payments; they can get their money back by selling your house. That is the single most important thing you need to understand about second mortgages. If you default on a second mortgage, you CAN lose your home.

Reasons to take out a second mortgage.

Those same ads also often use tempting images to convince you that taking out a second mortgage for fun things is a good idea. Why wait for that cruise when you can put your house on the line to finance it? It's best to use savings and earnings for fun things and luxuries. A second mortgage is a great way to fund things that will last and give you a return on your investment. Among the best reasons for a second mortgage are

  • paying for education and training


  • making improvements or repairs to your home

  • paying for once in a lifetime events



  • paying for once in a lifetime events


Second Mortgage




It refers to a term mortgage also called a secured loan that is subordinate to another loan against the same property.In real estate, a property can have multiple loans or liens against it. The loan which is registered with county or city registry first is called the first mortgage or first position trust deed. The lien registered second is called the second mortgage. A property can have a third or even fourth mortgage, but those are rarer.
Second mortgages are called subordinate because, if the loan goes into default, the first mortgage gets paid off first before the second mortgage. Thus, second mortgages are riskier for lenders and generally come with a higher interest rate than first mortgages.

In most cases, a second mortgage takes the form of a home equity loan and the two are synonymous, from a financial standpoint. The difference in terminology is that a mortgage traditionally refers to the legal lien instrument, rather than the debt itself.

The term length of a second mortgage varies. Terms can last up to 30 years on second mortgages; however repayment may be required in as little as one year depending on the loan structure.

A second mortgage can occasionally be the catalyst to foreclosure when a homeowner defaults on their loan. The second lien holder then purchases the primary mortgage (which may still be in good standing) and then forecloses which leaves the homeowner losing their home to the 2nd mortgage lender.

Generally, when considering the application for a second mortgage, lenders will look for the following:

  1. Significant equity in the first mortgage
  2. Low debt-to-income ratio
  3. High credit score
  4. Solid employment history

The Benefits of Refinancing

It is very important for the homeowner to have a clear understanding of all financial objectives and keep these objectives.The decision is up to the homeowner to decide which is best based on their specific financial situation. This article will look at a few of the major reasons as to why people decide to refinance their mortgages.
Nobody likes to pay more than their neighbor did for something - especially their house! Refinancing is an activity that is as much a part of the mortgage process nowadays as taking out a mortgage is to buy a new home. A smart homeowner knows that interest rates will rise and fall and that by keeping track of where they are currently they can save a lot of money over the life of their mortgage note by locking in a lower mortgage rate now, even if it means paying a little money up front. Refinancing helps millions of homeowners get lower rates on their mortgages by paying off their old mortgage and writing a new one.Of course, as with any financial transaction, you should carefully review all the costs associated with refinancing and the potential benefits versus the risks. Typically, if you only have a few years left on your mortgage note then refinancing is not for you - you simply won't save enough in interest to make up for the fees you have to pay to rewrite your mortgage. The best time to refinancing, according to some experts, is when at least 40% of your monthly mortgage payment is still going towards interest fees.
If you do decide to refinance it is important to remember all the tricks we've talked about before when shopping around for a mortgage. Get plenty of competitive bids, keep a close eye on the fees, and be sure to read and understand the risks involved.Another reason that many homeowners refinance their mortgages is to take advantage of increased property values as to "cash out" on some of the equity. Say you have a child who is ready for college and you need a way to pay for it. Your home, with cost $100,000 twenty years ago when you took out your 30-year mortgage may now be worth $200,000. By refinancing you can in essence write yourself a check to pay for home repairs or other needs and get the money easier at a better rate then taking out a 2nd mortgage.
For those who use it wisely, refinancing can be one of the best financial tools you have. Not only does it hold the potential to help you save thousands of dollars in interest charges by getting you a lower rate, but it also lets you take advantage of increased property values to help pay for other necessary items that come up in life. Yet another reason why owning a home is truly one of the best financial moves you will ever make.

According to BBC News

Average property values dropped by 1% compared with January, with the average home worth £161,320.But the annual rate of increase accelerated to 9.2% because prices dropped faster a year ago.
Mortgage lending also slowed at the start of the year owing to the hangover from the stamp duty holiday. A separate Land Registry survey of house prices in England and Wales found that in the previous month, January, prices rose strongly by 2.1%.That was the eighth monthly rise in a row reported by the Registry and pushed the average house price up to £165,088 - 5.2% higher than in January 2009.

Blip:

A better indication of house price trends is available by looking at the three-month on three-month comparison available from the Nationwide.


UK house prices fell for the first time in 10 months in February as icy weather put off house hunters, the Nationwide building society has said.





This showed a 1.6% increase in the three months to February, having slowed from 2% in January and from the peak of 3.7% in September.

Prices surprised many commentators by remaining relatively buoyant throughout the second half of 2009.

The Nationwide said it was difficult to gauge whether February's fall was a "temporary blip" or the start of a new downward trend.

"There is evidence from a range of indicators that the market may have lost momentum in early 2010 as the stamp duty holiday ended and house hunters were obstructed by the icy weather," said Martin Gahbauer, chief economist for the Nationwide.

"Even without the impact of stamp duty changes and the snowy weather, it would have been surprising to see house prices maintain the very strong upward momentum seen for most of 2009."

Little increase in household incomes and relatively high unemployment could also have put the brakes on house prices.

Mr Gahbauer said that it was a "positive development" for house prices not to race away from these economic fundamentals.

Freddie Mac's survey

Freddie Mac collects mortgage rates on Monday through Wednesday of each week from lenders around the country. Rates often fluctuate significantly, even within a given day, often in line with long-term Treasury bonds.
Mortgage rates have been at or near record lows due to a $1.25 trillion Federal Reserve program to buy up mortgage securities. That program is scheduled to run out at the end of March, but the Fed has held the door open to extending it if the economy weakens.Some analysts fear that once the central bank stops, mortgage rates could spike due to a lack of willing buyers, hurting the recovery in housing and the overall economy. But government officials have been optimistic about that the Fed will be able to end its program without a major disruption.

This week, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 4.4 percent, up from 4.33 percent last week, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 4.16 percent, up from 4.12 percent a week earlier. Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 4.15 percent from 4.23 percent.

The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. One point is equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount.

The nationwide fee for loans in Freddie Mac's survey averaged 0.7 point for 30-year and 15-year loans and 0.6 point for five-year and one-year loans.

Mortgage rates

30-year fixed loan breaks barrier for the first time in three weeks

According to AP Associated Press:
Rates for 30-year home loans rose above the 5 percent threshold for the first time in three weeks, but remained near historically low levels.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 5.05 percent this week, up from 4.93 percent a week earlier, mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Rates had dropped to a record low of 4.71 percent in December, pushed down by an aggressive government campaign to reduce consumers' borrowing costs.


Graphical Representation: