Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Climb Higher

NEW YORK -- Mortgage rates reversed course this week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate jumping to 4.32 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.34 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate climbed to 3.41 percent, while the larger jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 4.35 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were also higher this week, with the 5-year ARM rising to 3.31 percent, the 7-year ARM stepping up to 3.53 percent.

Evidence that economic growth is accelerating after a dismal start to the year helped push mortgage rates slightly higher from the lowest levels in nearly a year. Comments from some members of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee about the need to curtail the Fed's easy money policy also underscored this week's upward movement in bond yields and mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government bonds, both of which would be at higher levels in an environment of a less accommodative Fed and more robust economy. Some bond traders are positioning themselves accordingly ahead of the upcoming employment report. Any disappointments on the job front could easily unwind this week's increase.

As 2013 came to a close, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 4.69 percent. At that time, a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,036.07. After drifting lower for much of the first five months of 2014, the average rate is now 4.32 percent, and the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $992.09, a savings of nearly $44 per month for anyone that waited.

SURVEY RESULTS

30-year fixed: 4.32% -- up from 4.25% last week (avg. points: 0.34)
15-year fixed: 3.41% -- up from 3.35% last week (avg. points: 0.21)
5/1 ARM: 3.31% -- up from 3.24% last week (avg. points: 0.22)