U.S. mortgage interest rates decreased for the week ending April 8, 2021, the first decline in interest rates after seven straight weeks of increases, according to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan averaged 2.65 percent for the week ending January 7, 2021. Rates were last above 4 percent (4.06 percent) for the week ending May 23, 2019.
"After moving up for seven consecutive weeks, mortgage rates have dropped due to the recent, modest decline of U.S. Treasury yields," Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said. "As the economy recovers, it should experience a strong rebound in the labor market. [T]hese positive signals will continue to bolster purchase demand.
Khater added, "The drop in rates creates yet another opportunity for those who have not refinanced to take a look at the possibility."
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The 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan averaged 2.42 percent, with an average 0.6 point, down from 2.45 percent the prior week. A year ago, the 15-year note averaged 2.77. percent.
The five-year, adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.92 percent, with an average 0.1 point, compared to 2.84 percent the previous week. The five-year ARM averaged 3.40 percent during the same week in 2020.
Both purchase mortgage applications and refinance applications declined, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) latest Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 2, 2021. The seasonally adjusted "Purchase Index" decreased 5 percent from one week earlier, the MBA reported April 7, 2021. The unadjusted Purchase Index fell 4 percent compared with the previous week but was 51 percent higher than the same week one year ago.