New Record for 30-Year Mortgage Rate

Here we go again setting new mortgage-rate records!

Freddie Mac's weekly report said the 30-year fixed rate slipped to 4.44% for the week ended Thursday, the lowest since it began tracking the rate in 1971. Last week's rates stood at 4.49%, and a year ago it was at 5.29%. 

The 15-year fixed rate fell to 3.92% this week, the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking it 1991, down from 3.95% last week and from 4.68% a year ago. 

Adjustable-rate mortgages also declined, with the 5-year rate falling to 3.56% this week, the lowest since 2005 when the lender began tracking it. 

Mortgage tracker Bankrate.com, which surveys large lenders across the country, said the average 30-year fixed loan sank to a record low for the fourth consecutive week, falling to 4.57% from 4.66% the previous week. 

The 15-year fixed rate, which is a popular option for refinancing, also fell to the lowest level in the history of Bankrate's 25-year old survey, dipping to 4.06%, from 4.11% the week before.

 While the 1-year adjustable-rate mortgage held steady at 4.8% for a fourth week, the 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage dropped to a record low of 3.92% from 3.95% the previous week.