Mortgage Rates Pull Back

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates pulled back for a second consecutive week, and remain near record lows. The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate settled at 3.57 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.43 discount and origination points.

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

The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate inched lower to 2.89 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year mortgage set a new record low of 4.11 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates were mostly lower, with the 5-year ARM dipping to 2.72 percent and the 10-year ARM sinking to a new low of 3.2 percent.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, with both the monthly jobs report and the presidential election looming, and the fiscal cliff unresolved, investors are understandably nervous. Such nervousness and uncertainty fuels demand for the safety and security of government securities. Fixed mortgage rates are closely related to the yields on long-term government bonds. Just some of this – but not all – will be resolved in the coming week, so expect mortgage rates to be in flux for some time.

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 3.57 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $905.92, a difference of $336 per month for anyone refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 3.57% -- down from 3.61% last week (avg. points: 0.43)

15-year fixed: 2.89% -- down from 2.90% last week (avg. points: 0.30)

5/1 ARM: 2.72% -- down from 2.73% last week (avg. points: 0.38)

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 ].

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. The panelists are divided this week, with 39 percent predicting mortgage rates will fall further and an equal 39 percent forecasting that rates will hold steady in the next seven days. Just 22 percent expect mortgage rates to increase in the coming week.

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

About Bankrate, Inc. (NYSE: [ RATE ])

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.

For more information contact:

Kayleen Yates
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
[ kyates@bankrate.com ]
(917) 368-8677

SOURCE Bankrate, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
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Contributing Sources

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Mortgage Rates Pull Back