Housing Market, Records | featured news

Mortgage rates, which took some dramatic dips in 2012, were among the lowest on record this year, according to data released by Freddie Mac on Thursday. The 30-year fixed-rate average dropped to 3.35 percent, down 0.7 from the week before. It is substantially lower than the 3.95 percent level it reached during the final week of 2011.

The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage touched its record low this week and the rate on 15-year mortgage hit a new record.

Average rates on fixed mortgages fell again this week to record lows, creating more incentive for buyers to enter the recovering housing market.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage this week fell below 4 percent for the first time ever, to 3.94 percent....

U.S. mortgage rates dropped to new lows after the latest round of gloomy economic data hurt Treasury yields, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of mortgage rates.

A six-month decline in mortgage rates has spurred a surge in refinancing while doing little to increase property demand as US unemployment hovers near 10 percent.

The number of U.S. homes taken back by banks through foreclosure hit a record high in the second quarter, even as lenders delayed more homes from entering the process through short sales and loan modification efforts, according to data to be released Thursday.

Mortgage rates mostly fell the past week, with the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage falling slightly, extending its record low.

Sales of new homes in the US fell to their lowest level on record in February, figures show.

U.S. home loans failed at a record pace in July despite ongoing federal and state programs to avoid foreclosures, which have severely strained housing and the economy.