Mortgage Rates Just Above Yearly Lows – 30 Year Rates Averaging 4.19%

Mortgage rates are hovering just above the low for 2014. Conventional 30 year mortgage rates are currently averaging 4.19 percent, a decline from last week's average 30 year rate of 4.26 percent. The lowest point for 30 year conforming rates in 2014 was 4.12 percent earlier this month. The highest point was 4.53 percent back in January.

So far in 2014, mortgage rates have headed in the opposite direction than they were forecasted. Late in 2013, forecasts were for 30 year mortgage rates to hit 5.00 percent sometime this year. While this is still possible, it is getting more and more unlikely as we move into the 8th month of the year.

A more likely scenario is for 30 year conforming rates to remain near current levels. Rates probably won't move below 4.00 percent unless the situation in the Ukraine gets a lot worse and investors free equities to the safety of U.S. Treasuries. As investors buy bonds, bond prices move higher and bond yields move lower. Mortgage rates are tied to bond yields, so lower yields means lower rates on mortgages.

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
Tomo Mortgage, LLC.
NMLS #2059741
5.117%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$3,360
Includes 0.840 points for $3,360
Lender Fees: $0
$3,162 /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
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
5.239%
15-Year Fixed
5.125%
$3,070
Includes 0.500 points for $2,000
Lender Fees: $1,070
$3,190 /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
New American Funding, LLC.
NMLS #6606
5.392%
15-Year Fixed
5.240%
$3,992
Includes 0.998 points for $3,992
Lender Fees: $0
$3,214 /mo
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
5.394%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,835
Includes 0.682 points for $2,728
Lender Fees: $1,107
$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
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
Tomo Mortgage, LLC.
NMLS #2059741
5.955%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,476
Includes 0.869 points for $3,476
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
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
5.964%
5-Year ARM
5.875%
$3,876
Includes 0.969 points for $3,876
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
5.990%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$5,070
Includes 1.000 points for $4,000
Lender Fees: $1,070
$2,367 /mo
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
6.094%
5-Year ARM
5.990%
$4,543
Includes 0.859 points for $3,436
Lender Fees: $1,107
$2,396 /mo
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
6.104%
5-Year ARM
5.990%
$5,006
Includes 0.984 points for $3,936
Lender Fees: $1,070
$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
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
6.207%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,567
Includes 0.615 points for $2,460
Lender Fees: $1,107
$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
New American Funding, LLC.
NMLS #6606
6.329%
30-Year Fixed
6.240%
$3,768
Includes 0.942 points for $3,768
Lender Fees: $0
$2,461 /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.

On the high end, average 30 year rates could move above 4.50 percent or even higher in 2014. The key to higher rates is a strong economy, a lower unemployment rate, and the threat of inflation. Several key economic reports will be released this week that could send bond yields and mortgage rates higher.

The most influential report will be nonfarm payrolls scheduled to be released this Friday at 8:30 AM. Forecasts are for 250,000 jobs having been created and for the unemployment rate to hold steady at 6.1 percent. Any decline in the unemployment rate or job growth higher than 300,000 will send rates higher.

Overall, mortgage rates will move higher from current levels. Strictly speaking in terms of rates, if you're thinking about refinancing your mortgage or buying a home, you should do so now. Refinance rates are probably at the low point for this year and likely at the lowest point we will ever see. Rates are moving higher in the coming years, so locking in a fixed long term rate is your best bet.

Listed below are average mortgage rates today for fixed conforming and fixed jumbo mortgages:

Average Conforming Mortgage Rates

  • 30 Year Rates 4.19%
  • 15 Year Rates 3.23%

Average Jumbo Mortgage Rates

  • 30 Year Rates 4.68%
  • 15 Year Rates 3.70%

The lowest rates available right now in our rate database are below:

Lowest Conforming Mortgage Rates Available

  • 30 Year Rates 3.625% 2 Mortgage Points
  • 15 Year Rates 2.75%  1 Mortgage Point

Lowest Jumbo Mortgage Rates Available

  • 30 Year Rates 3.75% 2 Mortgage Points
  • 15 Year Rates 3.125% 1 Mortgage Point

 
Author: Brian McKay
August 2nd, 2014

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