Washington, D.C. – Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages were nearly flat from March to April, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts.
The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 3.75 percent for loans closed in late April, up 2 basis points from 3.73 percent in March.
The average interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.75 percent, down 1 basis point from 3.76 in March.
The average interest rate on conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages of $417,000 or less was 3.94 percent, down 1 basis point from 3.95 in March.
The effective interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.89 percent in April, up 1 basis point from 3.88 in March. The effective interest rate accounts for the addition of initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage.
The average loan amount for all loans was $322,400 in April, down $2,600 from $325,000 in March.
FHFA will release May index values Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
For more information, call David Roderer at (202) 649-3206. To hear recorded index information, call (202) 649-3993. To find the complete contract rate series, go to http://www.fhfa.gov/data/mirs.
Technical note: The indices are based on a small monthly survey of mortgage lenders, which may not be representative. The sample is not a statistical sample but is rather a convenience sample. Survey respondents were asked to report terms and conditions of all conventional, single-family, fully amortized purchase-money loans closed during the last five working days of the month. Unless otherwise specified, the indices include 15-year mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. The indices do not include mortgages guaranteed or insured by either the Federal Housing Administration or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The indices also excluded refinancing loans and balloon loans. March 2016 values are based on 4,294 reported loans from 22 lenders, which include savings associations, mortgage companies, commercial banks, and mutual savings banks.
Media: Stefanie Johnson (202) 649-3030 / Corinne Russell (202) 649-3032
Consumers: Consumer Communications or (202) 649-3811