WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the latest Freddie
Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday:

— Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its
Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS ), showing fixed mortgage rates
moving slightly higher while continuing to remain near their all-time
lows helping to support the housing market.

News Facts

– 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.41 percent with an
average 0.7 point for the week ending October 25, 2012, up from last
week when it averaged 3.37 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year
FRM averaged 4.10 percent.

– 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.72 percent with an average 0.6
point, up from last week when it averaged 2.66 percent. A year ago at
this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.38 percent.

– 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
averaged 2.75 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, the same as
last week. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.08 percent.

– 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.59 percent this week with
an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.60 percent
last week. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.90 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees
and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage.
Visit the following links for Regional and National Mortgage Rate
Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are
not included in the survey.

Quotes

Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist,
Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates remained relatively unchanged this week and should
continue to support the housing market and mortgage refinance. Existing
home sales in September eased slightly to 4.75 million but was the
second strongest annualized pace since May 2010. Moreover, new home
sales rose to the most since April 2010. In addition, low rates and
strong demand have already pushed the FHFA purchase-only home price
index in August to its highest level (seasonally adjusted) since June
2010. And not surprisingly, the Federal Reserve in its October 24th
monetary policy announcement acknowledged the further signs of
improvement in the housing sector, albeit from a depressed level.”

** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

[TOPICS: M$U$$$,M$$AG$,MAUDS$]