Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Reverse Course

June 16, 2011

NEW YORK, N.Y. – June 16, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Mortgage rates increased this week, following a nine-week streak of declines. The benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.71 percent, according to Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/

The average 15-year fixed mortgage jumped up to 3.86 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate ticked up to 5.20 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were higher also, with the average 5-year ARM rising to 3.40 percent and the 7-year ARM climbing to 3.63 percent.

Following nine straight weeks of declines, this week’s increase puts mortgage rates back to where they were the last week in May. The turnaround wasn’t spurred by economic news that was any better. It just wasn’t any worse. Further, the release of producer and consumer price measures for the month of May show inflation isn’t going away despite lower commodity prices. This is likely to put a floor under mortgage rates, pending any evidence of continued economic weakening.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At the time, the average 30-year fixed rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 4.71 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,038.48, a difference of $203 per month for anyone refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS 30-year fixed: 4.71% — up from 4.65% last week (avg. points: 0.41)
15-year fixed: 3.86% — up from 3.79% last week (avg. points: 0.36)
5/1 ARM: 3.40% — up from 3.35% last week (avg. points: 0.33)Bankrate’s national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week’s move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-break-9-week-fall.aspx?ic_id=tsFS1.

The survey is complemented by Bankrate’s weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. This week, a little more than half of the panelists, 56 percent, expect mortgage rates to keep climbing. Nearly one-third, 31 percent, predict mortgage rates will remain more or less unchanged. Just 13 percent forecast a decline in the upcoming week.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI

About Bankrate, Inc.
The Bankrate network of companies includes Bankrate.com, Interest.com, Mortgage-calc.com, Nationwide Card Services, InsureMe, CreditCardGuide.com, Bankaholic, CreditCards.com and NetQuote. Each of these businesses helps consumers to make informed decisions about their personal finance matters. The company’s flagship brand, Bankrate.com is a destination site of personal finance channels, including banking, investing, taxes, debt management and college finance. Bankrate.com is the leading aggregator of rates and other information on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used auto loans, money market accounts and CDs, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. Bankrate.com reviews more than 4,800 financial institutions in 575 markets in 50 states. Bankrate.com provides financial applications and information to a network of more than 75 partners, including Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), America Online (NYSE: AOL), The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times (NYSE: NYT). Bankrate.com’s information is also distributed through more than 500 newspapers.