Core Insights - Mortgage rates are currently just above 6%, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.03% and the 15-year fixed rate at 5.42% [1][20] - Zillow's rates tend to be lower than those reported by Freddie Mac due to different data collection methods [1] - Mortgage rates can vary significantly based on state, lender, loan type, and other factors [1] Current Mortgage Rates - The current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.03% - 20-year fixed: 5.95% - 15-year fixed: 5.42% - 5/1 ARM: 6.03% - 7/1 ARM: 6.18% - 30-year VA: 5.46% - 15-year VA: 5.05% - 5/1 VA: 5.16% [6] Refinance Rates - Today's mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, although this is not always the case [4] - The refinance rates are also based on national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth [4] Market Trends - Mortgage rates have gradually decreased since the end of May, with the 30-year fixed rate peaking over 7% in January and then fluctuating [22] - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) forecasts the 30-year mortgage rate to be near 6.4% through 2026, while Fannie Mae predicts rates above 6% next year, dropping to 5.9% in Q4 2026 [21] Buying Considerations - The current housing market is considered relatively favorable compared to the previous years, with home prices stabilizing [19] - Timing the real estate market is often seen as challenging, and the best time to buy is when it aligns with personal circumstances [19]

Group 1: Company Updates - Newrez Wholesale has enhanced its partner protection program, offering 18 months of solicitation protection for approved broker partners starting January 1, 2026, and 30-month protection for RezClub members [1] - Arc Home's Closed End Second product offers strong execution with pricing up to 107.5 on eligible scenarios, with loan amounts up to 500,000 and CLTVs up to 80% [2] - Spring EQ is maintaining momentum into 2026 by offering premium pricing on all products, allowing customers to lower closing costs and choose higher rates [2] Group 2: Freddie and Fannie Updates - The future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remains uncertain, with potential privatization seen as inevitable but the timeline unclear [4][5] - Freddie Mac has introduced a new API to streamline the loan delivery process within Loan Selling Advisor [7] - Fannie Mae's December Selling Guide includes updates such as expanded financing options for HomeStyle® Refresh and removal of renovation caps for manufactured homes [8] Group 3: Market Insights - U.S. Treasuries rebounded sharply, supported by global and domestic signals, with inflation cooling in November, indicating potential Fed rate cuts in March and June [10] - Mortgage rates fell slightly in the latest survey, with the 30-year and 15-year rates at 6.21% and 5.47%, respectively, showing significant year-over-year decreases [11] - Ginnie Mae is channeling a large share of mortgage credit to first-time home buyers, with nearly 70% of its 30-year issuance this year going to this demographic [12]

Mortgage Rates Overview - The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is currently 6.21%, down from 6.72% a year ago, while the 15-year fixed rate is at 5.47%, down from 5.92% last year [1] - The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has remained stable within a narrow 10-basis point range over the last two months, with purchase applications up 10% compared to the same time last year [1] Current Mortgage Rates - Current mortgage rates include a 30-year fixed at 6.06%, 20-year fixed at 5.91%, and 15-year fixed at 5.42% [5] - Other rates include 5/1 ARM at 6.02%, 7/1 ARM at 6.14%, 30-year VA at 5.52%, and 15-year VA at 5.02% [5] Mortgage Rate Trends - Mortgage rates have generally decreased since the end of May and remain lower than the same time last year, with economists not expecting drastic declines through the end of 2026 [14] - The MBA forecasts the 30-year mortgage rate to be around 6.4% through 2026, while Fannie Mae predicts rates above 6% next year, dipping to 5.9% in Q4 2026 [17] Future Projections - For 2027, the MBA anticipates 30-year fixed rates of 6.3% for most of the year, increasing to an average of 6.4% in Q4, while Fannie Mae expects average rates near 5.9% for the entire year [18]

Core Viewpoint - Mortgage rates are expected to experience a slow and uneven decline rather than a significant drop following the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting, according to economists and housing forecasters Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve is anticipated to implement a quarter-point rate cut at its December 9-10 meeting, with futures markets indicating a nearly 90% probability, which would adjust the federal funds rate to approximately 3.5%–3.75% [2] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's guidance will significantly influence the direction of mortgage rates, with expectations of cautious messaging regarding future rate cuts beyond the immediate meeting [4] Group 2: Current Mortgage Rates - The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has decreased to around 6.2%, down from approximately 6.7% a year ago, reflecting a trend of falling rates since late July due to expectations of a Fed rate cut [3] - Mortgage rates typically respond to investor expectations and the 10-year Treasury yield rather than the Fed's short-term rate, suggesting that the recent decline may have already been factored into current rates [5] Group 3: Future Projections - Major forecasters, including Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research group, predict that 30-year mortgage rates will end 2025 at about 6.3% and only decrease to around 5.9% by the end of 2026, indicating a prolonged period of elevated rates [7] - Bank of America’s Aditya Bhave suggests that a mortgage rate closer to 5% is necessary to stimulate home sales, which are currently stagnant near post-2008 lows, implying that any immediate post-meeting rate drops will be minimal [8]

Mortgage Rates - The average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage decreased to 6.21% from 6.22% last week, down from 6.72% a year ago [1][3] - The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.47% from 5.54% last week [3] Market Trends - Mortgage rates have remained within a narrow 10-basis point range over the last two months, with a decrease of half a percent compared to last year [3] - Purchase applications are 10% above the same time last year, indicating increased buyer activity [3] Economic Context - The Federal Reserve recently lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, which indirectly influences mortgage rates [4] - The 10-year Treasury yield was around 4.12% as of Thursday afternoon, which closely tracks mortgage rates [4] Buyer Conditions - Homebuyers are in a more favorable position now than a year ago, with mortgage rates easing into the low-6% range and inventory levels well above last year's [6] - Renters have also seen improved affordability, with rents falling for the 28th consecutive month in November [6]

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged lower this week, staying relatively close to its low for the year. The decline brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.21% from 6.22% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.72%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell this week. The rate averaged 5.47%, down from 5.54% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.92%, Freddie Mac said. ...

Mortgage Rates Overview - Mortgage rates remained stable, with the average 30-year mortgage rate at 6.21% and the 15-year rate at 5.47% [1][3] - The stability in mortgage rates has been observed since mid-September, contributing to increased buying and selling activity in the housing market [3] Labor Market Impact - The unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, the highest since 2021, but this did not significantly affect Treasury yields or mortgage rates [2] - The labor market slowdown was in line with expectations, indicating a lack of immediate impact on financial markets [2] Mortgage Application Trends - Mortgage applications for home purchases decreased by 3%, while refinancing applications fell by 4% [3] - The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut has had minimal influence on mortgage rates, highlighting the indirect relationship between Fed policies and mortgage rates [3]

Core Insights - Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey indicates that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) is at 6.21% as of December 18, 2025, showing a slight decrease from the previous week when it was 6.22% [1][5] - The current 30-year FRM is down by half a percent compared to the same time last year, when it averaged 6.72% [1][5] - Purchase applications have increased by 10% compared to the same period last year, reflecting a positive trend in the housing market [1] Mortgage Rate Details - The 15-year FRM averaged 5.47% as of December 18, 2025, down from 5.54% the previous week and lower than the 5.92% average a year ago [5] - The PMMS focuses on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers with excellent credit who put 20% down [2]

Group 1: UWM and TWO Merger - United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO) in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.3 billion in equity [5] - This acquisition will enhance UWM's servicing book from $216 billion to $422 billion, moving it from a 18 ranking to 8 in the industry [9] - The merger is part of a broader trend of consolidation in the mortgage industry, with UWM aiming to strengthen its position in both origination and servicing [10][11] Group 2: Industry Trends and Insights - The mortgage industry is experiencing a multi-dimensional restructuring focused on technology-enabled scale and lifecycle monetization, which is essential for resilience across economic cycles [10] - Recent legislative changes, specifically credit trigger legislation, will restrict third-party marketing to borrowers, allowing only originators and servicers to contact them [12] - Major players like UWM and Rocket are strategically acquiring servicing capabilities to maintain direct contact with borrowers, especially during refinancing opportunities [13][14] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Economic Indicators - The capital markets are currently in a wait-and-see mode, with interest rates remaining stable and mortgage bonds trading mixed [17] - Recent economic reports showed lower-than-expected inflation rates, with the November CPI indicating a core increase of 2.6% year-over-year [18] - Upcoming economic data releases, including jobless claims and manufacturing reports, are anticipated to influence market sentiment and investor behavior [18]

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today announced that its offer to investors to exchange certain eligible Gold PCs and Giant PCs for TBA-eligible and non-TBA-eligible mirror securities will close on December 18, 2026. Freddie Mac announced the opening of the exchange offer on May 7, 2019. Investors can refer to the Exchange Offer Circular (available at Legal Documentation - Capital Markets) for the terms and conditions pertaining to the exchange offer. Additional info ...