FHFA: Average interest rate for 30-year mortgage inches up

By Kerri Ann Panchuk
• May 29, 2012 • 9:06am

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reports the average interest rate on a conventional, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of $417,000 or less grew 9 basis points to 4.21% in April. 

The interest rate reported by FHFA is determined 30 to 45 days before a loan closes. Therefore, the latest rates reflect market conditions that prevailed in mid- to late-March, but on transactions closing in late April.

The contract rate on the composite of all fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages hit 3.93% in April, up 4-basis points from 3.89% in March — though the FHFA cautioned there is "insufficient sample size" for ARMs.

Meanwhile, the effective interest rate, which shows the amortization of initial fees and charges, hit 4.03% in April, up 10-basis points from 3.93% in March.

Initial fees and charges in April represented 0.9% of the loan balance, which is down 3-basis points from March.

The average term for a mortgage is unchanged at 27.3 years. The average loan-to-price ratio is 75.3%, up 0.5%.

The average loan amount was $256,200 in April, up $9,100 from $247,100 in March.

kpanchuk@housingwire.com

More In Lending

The Texas House of Representatives approved legislation that would reverse mortgage lending in Texas. Before it can become a law, the legislation will go to voters in Texas on November 5th for approval.

An executive shake-up swept through Flagstar Bancorp this week. The Michigan-based firm says current CEO and President Michael Tierney is stepping down from the top job and returning to his previous position, executive vice president of personal financial services. Taking his place is Alessandro DiNello, who was named CEO and president.