In State of the Union Speech, Obama Talks Mortgage Rates

President Barack Obama, in his first State of the Union speech since winning re-election said the federal government needs to streamline mortgage rules that are preventing many creditworthy buyers from purchasing a home. The same rules are also making it harder for creditworthy homeowners from refinancing their existing loan to a lower mortgage rate.

Even though mortgage rates today are just above record lows, millions of people can't take advantage of low rates. Current 30 year conforming mortgage rates are averaging 3.66 percent and the lowest mortgage rates available on 30 year loans are around 3.00 percent to 3.25 percent.

Obama said, "Part of our rebuilding effort must also involve our housing sector. Today, our housing market is finally healing from the collapse of 2007. Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in six years, home purchases are up nearly 50 percent, and construction is expanding again."

Loan Type

Purchase Refinance with Cash out Refinance

State

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

FICO Score

Superior (780-850) Exceptional (760-779) Excellent (740-759) Very Good (720-739) Good (700-719) Above Average (680-699) Average (660-679) Fair (640-659) Need Improvement (620-639) Poor (350-620)

Loan Amount

$

Points

Up to 0 points Up to 0.5 points Up to 1 points Up to 1.5 points Up to 2 points Up to 2.5 points Up to 3 points

LTV

%

Loan Term

 15-Year Fixed  20-Year Fixed  30-Year Fixed  5-Year ARM  7-Year ARM  10-Year ARM

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The lenders whose rates and other terms appear on this chart are ICB's advertising partners. They provide their rate information to our data partner RateUpdate.com. Unless adjusted by the consumer, advertisers are sorted by APR from 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 RateUpdate.com 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.

Lender

APR / Rate

Fees / Points

Payment

NMLS #274058

5.552%

15-Year Fixed

5.375%

$4,638

Includes 0.637 points for $2,548

Lender Fees: $2,090

$3,242 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

5.554%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$8,000

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $4,000

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

5.756%

15-Year Fixed

5.625%

$3,404

Includes 0.676 points for $2,704

Lender Fees: $700

$3,295 /mo

Next >

NMLS #6606

5.884%

15-Year Fixed

5.740%

$3,732

Includes 0.933 points for $3,732

Lender Fees: $0

$3,320 /mo

Next >

NMLS #274058

6.515%

5-Year ARM

6.375%

$5,894

Includes 0.951 points for $3,804

Lender Fees: $2,090

$2,496 /mo

Next >

NMLS #274058

6.632%

30-Year Fixed

6.500%

$5,506

Includes 0.854 points for $3,416

Lender Fees: $2,090

$2,529 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

6.721%

30-Year Fixed

6.625%

$3,956

Includes 0.814 points for $3,256

Lender Fees: $700

$2,562 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

6.770%

30-Year Fixed

6.625%

$5,995

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $1,995

$2,562 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

6.889%

15-Year Fixed

6.750%

$3,500

Includes 0.875 points for $3,500

Lender Fees: $0

$3,540 /mo

Next >

NMLS #6606

6.960%

30-Year Fixed

6.875%

$3,468

Includes 0.867 points for $3,468

Lender Fees: $0

$2,628 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

7.589%

30-Year Fixed

7.500%

$3,500

Includes 0.875 points for $3,500

Lender Fees: $0

$2,797 /mo

Next >

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.

He continued to say, "But even with mortgage rates near a 50-year low, too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected. Too many families who have never missed a payment and want to refinance are being told no. That’s holding our entire economy back, and we need to fix it. Right now, there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today’s rates. Democrats and Republicans have supported it before. What are we waiting for? Take a vote, and send me that bill. Right now, overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first home. What’s holding us back? Let’s streamline the process, and help our economy grow."

The President makes valid points on mortgage rates, housing, and the economy. There are millions of homeowners who do not have enough equity in the home to refinance their loan. Current refinance rates on 15 year conforming loans are averaging 2.91 percent and there are lenders quoting 15 year refinance rates today as low as 2.25 percent with points.

There are bills pending in Congress that if passed, would help these homeowners refinance. The "Responsible Homeowners Refinancing Act" that was written by Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) would allow homeowners to streamline refi's of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

If millions of people were able to refinance and save $3,000 a year, this would be a boon to the economy, increasing disposable income for people and thus, creating jobs which are sorely needed. You can watch President Obama's State of the Union Speech on housing and mortgage rates here: