Mortgage Rates Increased Slightly, Remains Below 4% for 12th Straight Week

Freddie Mac said in a press release that their Primary Mortgage Market Survey show mortgage rates have nudged slightly higher.

The rates, however, have remained below four percent and will probably remain lower longer than previously reported.

Freddie Mac adds in the press release that the longer forecast for low mortgage rates is due to the statement of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank that they may not raise short-term interest rates.

The low Treasury yields, which was pushed down by the weaker than expected consumer demand, also contributes to the prolonged low mortgage rates.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.82 percent on the week that ended on Oct. 15, 2015, up from the previous week's 3.76 percent average, according to the press release.

The 15-year FRM averaged 3.03 percent, down from the 2.9 percent average of the previous week.

The Orange County Register provides an example of how the low mortgage rates this year compares to the mortgage rates last year. READ MORE