Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage in the United States increased two basis points to 3.45 percent, Freddie Mac reported August 11, 2016 when it released its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. 

The average rate for the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan in the United States for the week ending July 21, 2016 increased to 3.45 percent from 3.42 percent the previous week, Freddie Mac reported July 21, 2016.

How low will average U.S. mortgage interest rates go? It's anybody's guess!

Turmoil in the financial markets around the world after the "Brexit" vote put downward pressure on already-low mortgage interest rates in the United States for the week ending June 30, 2016, Freddie Mac reported June 30, 2016 in its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. 

Average U.S. mortgage interest rates remained around the three-year low for the week ending June 23, 2016 and nearly 0.5 percent lower than the same period last year, Freddie Mac reported June 23, 2016. 

Average U.S. mortgage interest rates declined for the second consecutive week and interest rates hit a new low for 2016, Freddie Mac reported June 16, 2016 in its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. 

The new Truth-in-lending RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rules created a new form called the Loan Estimate.

Average U.S. mortgage interest rates declined to the lowest level of the year and the lowest level since May 2013, Freddie Mac reported April 14, 2016. 

When you are ready to buy a home your credit score plays a big role in determining what mortgage loan programs you might qualify for, as well as how much you'll pay for mortgage insurance, if you lender requires it. The better a homebuyer's credit risk the more lending opportunities are available to him or her. 

Negative equity in homes across the United States is holding back the housing market and limiting real estate inventory, the Zillow Group reported March 9, 2016, but data show the percentage of homes in the Boston area underwater was only about half the national average. 

U.S. mortgage purchase applications rose 4 percent last week to the highest level since January, and purchase applications are 30 percent higher than during the same time last year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

A few months ago all the so-called mortgage experts and real estate pundits were convinced that interest rates for mortgage loans were going to start increasing in 2016, signaling the end of years of abnormally depressed borrowing costs. They predicted homebuyers were about to experience significantly increasing interest rates for the first time in years.