McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.26 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending November 1, 2007, down from last week when it averaged 6.33 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.31 percent.  The 30-year FRM has not been this low since the week ending May 17, 2007, when it averaged 6.21 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.91 percent with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.99 percent.  A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.02 percent.  The 15-year FRM has not been this low since the week ending May 10, 2007, when it averaged 5.87 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.98 percent this week, with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.03 percent.  A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.05 percent.  The 5-year ARM has not been this low since the week ending May 17, 2007, when it averaged 5.92 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.57 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.66 percent.  At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.53 percent.  The 1-year ARM has not been this low since the week ending May 31, 2007, when it averaged 5.57 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

"October's consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since October 2005 as mortgage rates continued to decline this week to their lowest level in almost six months," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "Continued market concerns about weaker economic growth and further declines in the housing market have kept mortgage rates low over the last few weeks.

"Although the third quarter gain in real gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.9 percent was stronger than market forecasts, the housing market has subtracted from GDP growth over the past twenty-one months ending in September.  In its most recent policy announcement, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) noted that the rate of expansion in the economy will most likely slow in the near term, due in part to a reflection of the intensity of the housing correction."

Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to support homeownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac purchases single-family and multifamily residential mortgages and mortgage-related securities, which it finances primarily by issuing mortgage-related securities and debt instruments in the capital markets. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible more than 50 million times, ensuring financing for one in six homebuyers and more than four million renters.

Source: Freddie Mac