2012 Record Breaking Year for Lower Mortgage Rates
During 2012 we have seen
mortgage rates hit a series of record lows and even more record lows are expected in 2013 as the Federal Reserve continues policies that are designed to drive mortgage rates down. Average conforming 30 year mortgage rates started 2012 at 3.91 percent in Freddie Mac's first Primary Mortgage Market Survey in 2012.
The last PMMS survey in 2012 had 30 year mortgage rates averaging 3.35 percent, a decline of 56 basis points or a decline of about 15 percent. 30 year
mortgage rates today on New Years Eve are averaging 3.38 percent on Bankrate's national average rate survey.

The lowest point for 30 year mortgage interest rates in Freddie Mac's survey was at 3.31 percent in the survey that ended on November 21, 2012. The highest point for 30 year rates in 2012 was in the March 22 survey when the average 30 year rate hit 4.08 percent. Back in January 2010 average 30 year rates were just above 5.00 percent.
The future direction of mortgage rates in 2013 will be lower due to several reasons. The main reason is that the Federal Reserve is buying mortgage-backed securities (MBS) specifically to drive rates lower. MBS are the aftermarket for mortgages. These mortgages are bundled together and sold to investors as securities. By doing so, this frees up funds so lenders can make more loans which provide liquidity to the mortgage market. The Fed started buying MBS during the housing bust to provide liquidity and help the housing market recover.
The lowest 30 year refinance rate quoted on our rate list for Texas right now is at 2.875 percent with 1.50 mortgage points. In other states you can also find 30 year rates quoted below the average and below 3.00 percent with points. On our Ohio 30 year refinance rates list we have one lender quoting 30 year refi rates at 2.875 percent with 1.761 points.
Conforming 15 year mortgage rates started 2012 at an average of 3.23 percent and closed out 2012 averaging 2.65 percent. As with 30 year rates, 15 year rates have been in a tight range for all of 2012. The highest point for average 15 year rates was on March 22 when 15 year rates hit 3.30 percent. The lowest point for 15 year rates was on November 21 when rates hit a low of 2.63 percent. In January 2010, 15 year mortgage interest rates averaged 4.44 percent.
All year long you could find lenders quoting 15 year mortgage refinance rates well below the average rates. Current mortgage rates on 15 year conforming loans can be found as low as 2.25 percent with points on our rate tables. If you'd rather not pay points up front in order to secure a lower rate, we have lenders quoting 15 year rates as low as 2.50 percent without points. Feel free to search our rate tables to find a list of today's mortgage rates in your state. Best of all you don't have to provide any personal information to see a list of rates at
mortgagerates.monitorbankrates.com.
The lenders whose rates and other terms appear on this chart are ICBs advertising partners they provide their rate information to our data partner RateUpdatecom Unless adjusted by the consumer advertisers are sorted by APR lowest to highest For any advertising partners that do not provide their rate they are listed in advertisement display units at the bottom of the chart Advertising partners may not pay to improve the frequency priority or prominence of their display The interest rates annual percentage rates and other terms advertised here are estimates provided by those advertising partners based on the information you entered above and do not bind any lender Monthly payment amounts stated do not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums The actual payment obligation will be greater if taxes and insurance are included Although our data partner RateUpdatecom collects the information from the financial institutions themselves the accuracy of the data cannot be guaranteed Rates may change without notice and can change intraday Some of the information contained in the rate tables including but not limited to special marketing notes is provided directly by the lenders Please verify the rates and offers before applying for a loan with the financial institution themselves No rate is binding until locked by a lender
6.289%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$7,000
Includes 0.750 points for $3,000
Lender Fees: $4,000
6.292%
15-Year Fixed
6.000%
$7,500
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $4,000
6.786%
30-Year Fixed
6.750%
$1,500
Includes 0.375 points for $1,500
Lender Fees: $0
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 or insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.
Mortgage Rates December 7, 2023
30-Year Fixed FHA
7.250%
9.002%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
8.375%
8.498%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
8.250%
8.411%
0.000
5/6M SOFR ARM
8.250%
8.361%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
8.150%
8.354%
0.000
1-Year ARM
6.750%
8.270%
0.000
5-Year Jumbo ARM
6.125%
8.217%
2.000
5Y/6M ARM
7.625%
8.178%
0.926
10-Year ARM
8.000%
8.174%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
8.000%
8.000%
0.000
5-Year ARM FHA
5.750%
7.995%
2.000
7Y/6M ARM
7.375%
7.983%
0.963
7-Year ARM
7.500%
7.959%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.875%
7.957%
0.250
10Y/6M ARM
7.500%
7.951%
0.864
20-Year Fixed
7.625%
7.929%
0.677
30-Year Jumbo Fixed
7.750%
7.911%
1.000
5/6 ARM
7.625%
7.884%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.750%
7.833%
0.000
5-Year ARM
6.250%
7.829%
2.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.750%
7.760%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.747%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.746%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.625%
7.740%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.735%
1.000
5/1 ARM Jumbo
7.000%
7.705%
0.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.250%
7.700%
0.500
5/6 ARM
6.750%
7.700%
0.500
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.691%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.682%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.682%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
7.625%
7.669%
0.000
5/1 ARM
6.875%
7.668%
0.000
5/1 ARM
6.750%
7.643%
0.725
10/6 ARM
7.250%
7.640%
0.000
5/6 ARM Jumbo
6.750%
7.640%
0.500
7/6 ARM
7.000%
7.632%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.625%
7.625%
0.000
5/6 Month ARM
6.750%
7.623%
1.000
3-Year ARM
7.000%
7.605%
0.000
5-Year ARM
7.250%
7.600%
0.000
10-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.591%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.577%
0.000
7/1 ARM
7.000%
7.577%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.573%
0.000
7/1 ARM Jumbo
6.999%
7.570%
0.000
10/6 ARM
7.125%
7.560%
0.500
15-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.558%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.554%
22.000
30-Year Fixed FHA
6.625%
7.525%
2.000
30-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.524%
1.000
10-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.524%
1.000
7/6 ARM
6.750%
7.520%
0.500
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.514%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.500%
7.512%
0.000
30 Year Fixed
7.250%
7.509%
0.939
15-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.505%
0.000
10/6 ARM Jumbo
7.125%
7.500%
0.500
30-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.489%
2.000
7/6 Month ARM
6.750%
7.484%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.480%
0.000
7/6-Month ARM
6.500%
7.464%
1.000
20-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.250%
7.462%
0.815
30-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.462%
0.000
7/6 ARM Jumbo
6.750%
7.460%
0.500
15-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.444%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
3.375%
7.442%
0.000
30-Year Fixed FHA
6.625%
7.440%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
7.375%
7.424%
0.000
7/6 ARM
6.500%
7.419%
0.719
10/1 Jumbo ARM
6.875%
7.409%
0.840
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.250%
7.408%
1.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.250%
7.403%
0.640
30-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.393%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.385%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.300%
7.381%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.350%
7.379%
0.000
5/1 ARM
6.125%
7.371%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.361%
0.000
7/1 Jumbo ARM
6.500%
7.359%
0.690
5/1 Jumbo ARM
6.750%
7.359%
0.690
20-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.354%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
7.250%
7.343%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.334%
1.000
30-year Fixed
7.250%
7.320%
0.500
7/6-Month ARM Jumbo
6.375%
7.317%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.316%
0.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.250%
7.298%
0.000
10/6 ARM
6.625%
7.294%
0.949
15-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.125%
7.270%
0.500
20-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.125%
7.260%
0.500
30-Year Fixed FHA
6.375%
7.257%
2.000
5/1 ARM
5.500%
7.250%
0.000
15-Year Fixed Jumbo
7.000%
7.246%
0.650
15-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.246%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.240%
0.500
15-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.215%
0.000
10/6 Interest Only Jumbo ARM
6.375%
7.204%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.204%
1.000
15-Year Fixed FHA
6.125%
7.202%
2.000
30-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.197%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.188%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.188%
0.625
10-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.187%
0.000
7/1 ARM
7.000%
7.186%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.181%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.177%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.173%
1.375
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.167%
1.875
10-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.160%
0.500
20-Year Fixed
7.125%
7.141%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.139%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.098%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
7.084%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.084%
0.375
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.084%
0.875
30-Year Fixed
7.000%
7.070%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.990%
7.067%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
6.750%
7.050%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.031%
0.704
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
7.029%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.020%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.875%
7.013%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
6.750%
7.010%
1.000
30-Year Fixed FHA
6.250%
6.998%
2.000
15-Year Fixed
6.875%
6.997%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.996%
2.000
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
6.988%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.984%
1.000
5-Year ARM
6.750%
6.983%
0.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.875%
6.978%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.875%
6.976%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
6.875%
6.970%
0.500
15-Year Fixed
6.375%
6.961%
2.125
30-Year Fixed
6.740%
6.924%
0.000
15 Year Fixed Jumbo
6.750%
6.924%
1.000
30-Year Fixed VA
6.375%
6.921%
2.125
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.917%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.890%
2.000
30-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.875%
0.390
15-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.873%
0.875
15-Year Fixed
6.375%
6.871%
2.000
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.865%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.839%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
6.625%
6.825%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.803%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.795%
0.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.625%
6.795%
1.250
30 Year Jumbo Fixed
6.625%
6.781%
1.125
15-Year Fixed
6.750%
6.772%
0.000
30 Year Fixed Jumbo
6.625%
6.756%
1.000
30-Year Fixed
6.650%
6.750%
0.000
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.625%
6.744%
1.250
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.500%
6.722%
2.000
30-Year Fixed VA
6.375%
6.710%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.625%
6.699%
0.000
20-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.696%
0.670
30-Year Fixed
6.625%
6.670%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
6.250%
6.647%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.375%
6.641%
0.802
15 Year Fixed
6.250%
6.631%
0.802
15-Year Fixed
6.125%
6.617%
2.000
15-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.609%
0.000
30-Year Fixed FHA
5.625%
6.567%
1.125
20-Year Fixed
6.500%
6.559%
0.000
30-Year Fixed
6.375%
6.495%
0.250
30-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.375%
6.495%
0.250
15-Year Fixed
6.000%
6.480%
1.000
15-Year Fixed Jumbo
5.875%
6.473%
2.000
15-Year Fixed Jumbo
6.250%
6.448%
0.250
15-Year Fixed
6.250%
6.397%
1.000
15-Year Fixed
6.125%
6.381%
0.765
15-Year Fixed
6.000%
6.279%
1.000
3/5 Jumbo ARM
5.000%
6.247%
0.250
3/5 Conforming ARM
5.000%
6.237%
0.250
7/1 ARM
6.500%
6.218%
0.000
15-Year Fixed
6.000%
6.197%
0.250
5/5 ARM
5.250%
6.139%
0.250
5/5 Jumbo ARM
5.250%
6.139%
0.250
3/1 ARM
6.000%
5.892%
0.000
The mortgage rates presented are solely intended for informational use. Please consult the mentioned lenders for up-to-date mortgage rates. The actual mortgage rates and other loan conditions depend on the lender's approval and are not guaranteed.
Author: Brian McKay
December 31st, 2012