Mortgage rates rise

3/2/2006

Mortgage rates, which are based on Treasury yields, are already beginning to climb - the first real move in about two weeks. The culprit in this scenario: the European Central Bank, or ECB.

At 4 p.m. EST, average mortgage rates (zero discount points) based on rates collected nationwide were:

The 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 6.021 percent, up from 5.973 percent on Wednesday.

The 15-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 5.635 percent, up from 5.585 percent on Wednesday.

The huge increase in Treasury yields has begun to take effect. Mortgage lenders are moving rates up and that trend can be expected to continue overnight and into Friday.

Mortgage rates firm

3/1/2006

Mortgage rates, which generally move with the yield on the 10-year note, remain steadfast, as they have for the past several days.

At 4 p.m. EST, average mortgage rates (zero discount points) based on rates collected nationwide were:

The 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 5.973 percent, up from 5.969 percent on Tuesday.

The 15-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 5.585 percent, down from 5.591 percent on Tuesday.

Treasury yields moved back up again on Wednesday, but they appear to be moving in a narrow - albeit higher -- range. This should allow mortgage lenders to keep rates fairly steady.

Mortgage rates stay put

2/27/06

Earlier Treasury gains turned to losses, sending yields, which move in the opposite direction of prices, up slightly. The moves, however, did not influence mortgage lenders to change rates in any measurable way.

At 4 p.m. EST, average mortgage rates (zero discount points) based on rates collected nationwide were:

The 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 5.978 percent, down from 5.996 percent on Friday.

The 15-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 5.588 percent, down from 5.597 percent on Friday.

Relative steadiness in Treasury yields should allow mortgage lenders to leave rates unchanged overnight and into Tuesday.