Mortgage Rates

Thirty-year fixed-interest mortgage rates continued to slide this week, falling to 3.84 percent from 3.88 percent last week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The 15-year rate was 3.07 percent, down from 3.12 percent last week. "Signs of slowing economic growth and inflation remaining subdued allowed yields on Treasury bonds to ease somewhat and brought most mortgage rates to new all-time record lows this week," said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. — Alan J. Heavens

WASHINGTON - Average U.S. rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages fell to fresh record lows this week. Cheap mortgage rates have made home-buying and refinancing more affordable than ever for those who can qualify. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan ticked down to 3.83 percent. That's the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s. And it's below the previous record rate of 3.84 percent reached last week. The 15-year mortgage, a popular option for refinancing, dropped to 3.05 percent, also a record.

A few area mortgage lenders edged the interest they charge on 30-year fixed-rate loans back into the single digits this week, but whether others will jump on the bandwagon is unclear. "The trend definitely has been downward," said Diane Curran, assistant director of the Mortgage Reporting Service of Jenkintown. The service publishes the weekly Mortgage Reporting Guide, which surveys 300 area lenders for mortgage rates. "But rates are not really plunging down comfortably into single digits yet. "This won't be the week to see a great rush back to single digits, but it may signal a trend.

WASHINGTON - Average U.S. rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages fell to fresh record lows this week. Cheap mortgage rates have made home-buying and refinancing more affordable than ever for those who can qualify. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan ticked down to 3.83 percent. That's the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s. And it's below the previous record rate of 3.84 percent reached last week. The 15-year mortgage, a popular option for refinancing, dropped to 3.05 percent, also a record.

Nearly 70 percent of the nation's community-based organizations say housing discrimination continues unabated, especially against immigrants, disabled people, and families with children, results of a recent survey indicate. Nearly 550 community groups surveyed in April by the nonprofit advocacy organization Consumer Action said that most of those facing discrimination are unsure of their rights and how to protect themselves. At a news conference sponsored by Consumer Action in Washington, D.C., Thursday, John Chin, executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp., said many of those facing discrimination often aren't even aware of it, owing to their limited proficiency in English.

Thirty-year fixed-interest mortgage rates continued to slide this week, falling to 3.84 percent from 3.88 percent last week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The 15-year rate was 3.07 percent, down from 3.12 percent last week. "Signs of slowing economic growth and inflation remaining subdued allowed yields on Treasury bonds to ease somewhat and brought most mortgage rates to new all-time record lows this week," said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. — Alan J. Heavens

Mortgage applications were up slightly from the previous week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday. Contributing to the 0.1 percent increase was a 2.9 percent rise in mortgages for home purchases, while the refinance application figure fell 0.7 percent from the week before. Still, the refinance share of mortgage activity, while down to 72.6 percent of total applications from 73.4 percent the previous week, predominates. Average 30-year rates were 3.97 percent for the week, according HSH.com, a publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information.

WASHINGTON - The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell back below 4 percent this week, staying near historic lows. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan dropped to 3.99 percent from 4.08 percent last week. Last month, the rate touched 3.87 percent, the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s. The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage also fell, to 3.23 percent. That's down from 3.30 percent last week and above the record low of 3.13 percent hit earlier this month.

WASHINGTON - The average rate on the 30-year mortgage edged down this week to hover again above record lows. Cheaper rates have spurred modest improvements in the battered housing market, but not enough to signal a recovery. Mortgage rates have been below 4 percent for more than three months. That has made home-buying and refinancing more attractive for those who can qualify. Home sales have improved and the four-week average of home-purchase applications was up a smidge last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Early in January, the Federal Reserve sent a paper to Congress, arguing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could boost the recovery if they were allowed to provide cheaper mortgages to a broader pool of homeowners. Translation: the Fed wants the government to make riskier mortgage loans (Fannie and Freddie have already lost $150 billion of taxpayer money). Didn't we just get into a pile of economic trouble doing this? Mortgage rates are already at historic lows. It is hard to see how making them lower could really attract home buyers who haven't already taken advantage of these wonderful rates.

WASHINGTON - Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage of the historic rates. Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.89 percent. That's below the previous record of 3.91 percent reached three weeks ago. Records for mortgage rates date to the 1950s. The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked down to 3.16 percent.

WASHINGTON - Fixed mortgage rates rose slightly this week off their record lows. The year ends much like it began, with few people able to take advantage of the best rates in history. Freddie Mac said yesterday that the average on the 30-year home loan increased to 3.95 percent from 3.91 percent. Last week's rate was the lowest average on records dating to the 1950s. The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.24 percent. That's up from 3.21 percent, also a record low. Rates have been below 5 percent for all but two weeks in 2011.