Fixed Mortgage Rates Increase but Remain Near Record Lows

Strong economic news sent bond yields and fixed mortgage rates higher this week. Despite the increase, mortgage rates today are still near record lows set two years ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the January Employment report which showed the economy added 257,000 new jobs in January, higher than the expected 235,000 jobs forecast.

Sharply higher revisions to the two prior months jobs reports also contributed to higher interest rates. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised from 353,000 to 423,000. The change for December was revised from 252,000 to 329,000

Less than two weeks ago, 10 year bond yields were near a record low of 1.67 percent. Today's 10 year yields are trading at 1.99 percent, a 32 basis point increase.

Loan Term
Lender
APR / Rate
Fees / Points
Payment
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.045%
15-Year Fixed
4.875%
$4,523
Includes 0.857 points for $3,428
Lender Fees: $1,095
$3,138 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.056%
15-Year Fixed
4.875%
$4,870
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $1,370
$3,138 /mo
Bison State Bank
NMLS #757416
5.141%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$3,988
Includes 0.997 points for $3,988
Lender Fees: $0
$3,162 /mo
Allied Mortgage Group, Inc.
NMLS #1067
5.151%
15-Year Fixed
5.000%
$3,988
Includes 0.997 points for $3,988
Lender Fees: $0
$3,164 /mo
Loansteady
NMLS #1701910
5.179%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$4,990
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $1,490
$3,162 /mo
Farmers Bank of Kansas City
NMLS #613839
5.192%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$5,351
Includes 0.866 points for $3,464
Lender Fees: $1,887
$3,162 /mo
Tomo Mortgage, LLC
NMLS #2059741
5.193%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$5,360
Includes 0.840 points for $3,360
Lender Fees: $2,000
$3,162 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
5.365%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,000
Includes 0.750 points for $3,000
Lender Fees: $0
$3,216 /mo
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.466%
5-Year ARM
5.375%
$4,067
Includes 0.743 points for $2,972
Lender Fees: $1,095
$2,240 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
5.503%
15-Year Fixed
5.375%
$3,348
Includes 0.662 points for $2,648
Lender Fees: $700
$3,242 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
5.837%
5-Year ARM
5.750%
$3,792
Includes 0.948 points for $3,792
Lender Fees: $0
$2,335 /mo
DECO Mortgage
NMLS #2561451
5.858%
30-Year Fixed
5.750%
$4,738
Includes 0.997 points for $3,988
Lender Fees: $750
$2,335 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.866%
5-Year ARM
5.750%
$5,146
Includes 0.944 points for $3,776
Lender Fees: $1,370
$2,335 /mo
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.947%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,135
Includes 0.510 points for $2,040
Lender Fees: $1,095
$2,367 /mo
Bison State Bank
NMLS #757416
5.954%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,436
Includes 0.859 points for $3,436
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
Allied Mortgage Group, Inc.
NMLS #1067
5.955%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,480
Includes 0.870 points for $3,480
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.963%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,870
Includes 0.625 points for $2,500
Lender Fees: $1,370
$2,367 /mo
Tomo Mortgage, LLC
NMLS #2059741
6.001%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$5,476
Includes 0.869 points for $3,476
Lender Fees: $2,000
$2,367 /mo
Farmers Bank of Kansas City
NMLS #613839
6.086%
30-Year Fixed
5.990%
$4,143
Includes 0.564 points for $2,256
Lender Fees: $1,887
$2,396 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
6.200%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,196
Includes 0.624 points for $2,496
Lender Fees: $700
$2,431 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
6.207%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,500
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $0
$2,431 /mo
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
NMLS #399799
6.213%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,900
Includes 0.643 points for $2,572
Lender Fees: $1,328
$2,431 /mo
Loansteady
NMLS #1701910
6.411%
30-Year Fixed
6.375%
$1,490
Includes 0.000 points for $0
Lender Fees: $1,490
$2,496 /mo
Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes and insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.

This past week, average 30 year mortgage rates increased 2 basis points to 3.87 percent, up from to 3.85 percent the prior week. Mortgage rates haven't increased as much as bond yields because lenders never lowered rates as much as bond yields fell.

Current 30 year rates are only 0.50 percent higher from the all-time record low of 3.35 percent set in May 2013. Many lenders are still quoting 30 year rates below the average, there are a few on MonitorBankRates.com offering rates at 3.625 percent.

As predicted last week, average conforming 15 year rates are above 3.00 percent. Current mortgage rates on 15 year loans are averaging 3.02 percent, up from the prior week's average rate of 2.96 percent.

The all-time low for 15 year rates is only 40 basis points lower than current rates. The all-time low was 2.56 percent, also set in May 2013. There are lenders quoting 15 year rates near the record lows, the lowest 15 year rates on the tables right now are at 2.875 percent with points. The lowest rate without points is at 3.00 percent.

Average Mortgage Rates February 12, 2015Today's mortgage rates on 30 year jumbo loans are averaging 4.41 percent, up from the prior week's average of 4.35 percent. The spread difference between average 30 year jumbo rates, and the lowest jumbo rates on our table is more than 75 basis points. The lowest jumbo rate currently available is at 3.625 percent.

15 year jumbo rates are averaging 4.24 percent, up from last week's average rate of 4.14 percent. The rate difference between average 15 rates and the lowest 15 year rate available is almost 1.50 percent. The best 15 year refinance rate available is 2.75 percent.

 
Author: Brian McKay
February 14th, 2015

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