Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Post Biggest Increase in 14 Years

NEW YORK, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mortgage rates spiked this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 6.37 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.4 discount and origination points.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040122/FLTHLOGO )

The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage popular for refinancing leapt to 5.87 percent, and the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate soared to 7.55 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates increased, but in a less pronounced fashion, with the average one-year ARM rising to 5.56 percent, and the average 5/1 ARM jumping to 5.77 percent.

Mortgage rates posted the largest one-week increase since April 1994, and over the last four weeks has increased by the largest amount since mortgage rates shot up from record low levels in the summer of 2003. Despite the pronounced move in mortgage rates, there wasn't one single factor that spurred the increase, but rather several contributing to the upward movement in recent weeks. The realization that the world hasn't come to an end is leading bond investors to unwind positions taken in January when economic and financial pessimism reigned. Inflation continues to percolate, as evidenced by $100 per barrel oil and yet another troubling uptick in the Consumer Price Index. But mortgage rates have increased much more than Treasury yields as investors reassess mortgage-backed securities in light of higher conforming loan limits to be announced in March.

Even though the difference between fixed and adjustable mortgage rates has grown, fixed rate mortgages remain the most attractive option for borrowers. Seven months ago, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.82 percent, meaning that a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,306.52. Now that the average conforming 30-year fixed rate is 6.37 percent, the same $200,000 loan carries a monthly payment of $1,247.09.

                                SURVEY RESULTS
     30-year fixed: 6.37% -- up from 5.96% last week (avg. points: 0.40)
     15-year fixed: 5.87% -- up from 5.46% last week (avg. points: 0.37)
        5/1 ARM: 5.77% -- up from 5.50% last week (avg. points: 0.40)

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/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly forward-looking Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next 30 to 45 days. This week the panelists are evenly split between predicting a further increase or a decline in mortgage rates, with 46 percent on each side of the fence. Just 8 percent foresee mortgage rates remaining more or less unchanged in the coming 30 to 45 days.

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

About Bankrate, Inc.

Bankrate, Inc. NASDAQ: RATE ("Bankrate") owns and operates Bankrate.com, a leading Internet consumer banking marketplace. 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 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. In 2007, Bankrate.com had nearly 60 million unique visitors. Bankrate.com provides financial applications and information to a network of more than 75 partners, including Yahoo! NASDAQ: YHOO, America Online NYSE: TWX, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times NYSE: NYT. Bankrate.com's information is also distributed through more than 450 national and state publications. In addition to Bankrate.com, Bankrate also owns and operates Bankrate Select, an Internet lead aggregator and Mortgage Market Information Services, Inc. and Interest.com, Inc., each of which publishes mortgage guides and financial rates and information; Nationwide Card Services, which markets a comprehensive line of consumer and business credit cards via the Internet; and Savingforcollege.com, the premier Internet destination for objective information about 529 college savings plans.

    For more information contact:
    Kayleen Keneally
    Senior Director, Corporate Communications
    kkeneally@bankrate.com
    917-368-8677

NOTE TO EDITORS: The information contained in this release is available for print or broadcast with attribution to Bankrate.com