by Calculated Risk on 9/08/2011 12:11:00 PM

From Freddie Mac: Mortgage Rates Attain New All-Time Record Lows Again

Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing mortgage rates, fixed and adjustable, hitting all-time record lows amid market and employment concerns and economic uncertainty. The previous record lows for fixed mortgage rates, and the 1-year ARM, were set the week of August 18, 2011. The 5-Year ARM matched its all-time low set last week at 2.96 percent.

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.12 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending September 8, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.22 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.35 percent.

Here is a long term graph of 30 year mortgage rate in the Freddie Mac survey:

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

The Freddie Mac survey started in 1971. Mortgage rates are currently at a record low for the last 40 years (mortgage rates were close to this range in the '50s).

The second graph shows the MBA's refinance index (monthly average) and the the 30 year fixed rate mortgage interest rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey®.

Refinance activity declined a little last week, but activity was up significantly in August compared to July.

With 30 year mortgage rates now at record lows, mortgage refinance activity will probably pick up some more in September - but so far activity is lower than in '09 - and much lower than in 2003.