Mortgage Rates Skid Into New Year Offering A Deal To Borrowers

Sparked by a slide in oil prices and bond yields, plus strong employment reports, mortgage rates have dipped unexpectedly, making home buying look brighter in 2015.

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market survey reported that average benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 3.66 percent in mid-January from 3.73 percent a week earlier.

It was the lowest level since the week ending May 23rd of 2013 when 30-year fixed loans averaged 3.59 percent. A year ago at this time, 30-year fixed loans averaged 4.41 percent.

Fifteen-year fixed mortgages averaged 2.98 percent in mid-January, down from 3.05 percent a week earlier. It is the first time average 15-year rates have fallen below 3 percent since the week ending May 30, 2013. A year ago, 15-year loans averaged 3.45 percent.

• Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 2.90 percent, down from 2.98 percent a week earlier. At this time last year, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.10 percent.

• One-year Treasury-indexed ARMS averaged 2.37 percent, down slightly from 2.39 percent a week earlier. A year ago, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.56 percent.

In Chicago, borrowers who shop around now may be able to lock in a 30-year fixed mortgage in the 3.5 percent to 3.625 percent range, and 15-year fixed loans at 2.75 percent to 2.875 percent, experts say. These are great deals, when you consider that home-loan rates have averaged about 6 percent over the past two decades.

It’s no wonder that mortgage applications in early 2015 have skyrocketed. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that application volume increased 49 percent for the week ended January 9th. Meanwhile, applications for mortgage refinances zoomed 66 percent from the previous week to the highest level since July of 2013.

“Mortgage rates fell for the third consecutive week as oil prices plummeted and long-term Treasury yields continued to drop despite a strong employment report,” noted Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac.

“The economy exceeded expectations by adding 252,000 jobs in December which followed an upward revision of 50,000 jobs to the prior two months,” Nothaft said. “The unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent which was the lowest since June 2008.”

Before the recent rate declines many bankers, lenders and borrowers had expected the Federal Reserve Board to start pushing home loan rates higher by mid-2015.

However, global economic uncertainty has sent the Wall Street stock market on a roller-coaster ride, forcing investors to flee to the safety of U.S. Treasury bonds. The higher demand for government bonds has caused their yields to drop, pushing long-term rates lower.

While most big banks still require borrowers to have a FICO score of at least 740, some smaller lenders are beginning to bend the requirements and are offering loans to borrowers with credit scores as low as 620.

However, these lenders are charging higher interest rates and requiring larger down payments on these risker loans. FICO scores range from 300 to 850.

Another boost to first-time mortgage hunters is the new policy of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to allow creditworthy borrowers to buy a home and place a down payment as little as 3 percent, instead of the traditional minimum of 5 percent for a conventional loan.

So, if you are yearning to buy a new home or condominium in 2015, or want to refinance an existing loan, this winter likely is a great time to start seriously shopping for real estate and mortgages. Spring may be too late.

Don DeBat is co-author of “Escaping Condo Jail,” the ultimate survival guide for condominium living.

For more information, visit www.escapingcondojail.com.