Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Down 6th Straight Week

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage
rate dipped to 5.22 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.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040122/FLTHLOGO )

The average 15-year fixed mortgage hit another record low of 4.60 percent
while the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate was up slightly, to 6.51 percent.
Adjustable rate mortgages were also mixed, with the average 1-year ARM inching
higher to 5.24 percent and the 5-year ARM falling to 4.66 percent.

Mortgage rates fell after another disappointing employment report that had
investors questioning the strength and sustainability of the economic rebound.
The resulting uncertainty drove investors into the safety of government and
mortgage-backed bonds. Mortgage rates, which are closely related to the yields
on government bonds, continue to flirt with the record lows seen in April. Not
even a substantial auction of government debt has been enough to derail the
streak of declining mortgage rates that has now reached six weeks.

Mortgage rates are approximately one full percentage point lower than one year
ago. This time last year, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.20
percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of
$1,224.94. With the average rate now 5.22 percent, the monthly payment for the
same size loan would be $1,100.69, a savings of $124 per month for a homeowner
refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 5.22% -- down from 5.25% last week (avg. points: 0.34)
15-year fixed: 4.60% -- down from 4.64% last week (avg. points: 0.26)
5/1 ARM: 4.66% -- down from 4.69% last week (avg. points: 0.28)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from
data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to
http://www.bankrate.com/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly forward-looking Rate Trend
Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are
headed over the next 30 to 45 days. The majority of panelists, 57 percent,
don't think mortgage rates are going much of anywhere anytime soon, expecting
mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged over the next 30 to 45 days.
There isn't any agreement among the other half of respondents, with 29 percent
predicting mortgage rates will rebound and 14 percent forecasting further
declines.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI

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

About Bankrate, Inc.
The Bankrate network of companies includes Bankrate.com, Interest.com,
Mortgage-calc.com, Nationwide Card Services, Savingforcollege.com, Fee
Disclosure, InsureMeCreditCardGuide.com and Bankaholic. Each of these
businesses helps consumers to make informed decisions about their personal
finance matters. The company's flagship brand, Bankrate.com is a destination
site of personal finance channels, including banking, investing, taxes, debt
management and college finance. Bankrate.com is the leading aggregator of
rates and other information on more than 300 financial products, including
mortgages, credit cards, new and used auto loans, money market accounts and
CDs, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees.
Bankrate.com reviews more than 4,800 financial institutions in 575 markets in
50 states. In 2008, Bankrate.com had nearly 72 million unique visitors.
Bankrate.com provides financial applications and information to a network of
more than 75 partners, including Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), America Online (NYSE:
TWX), The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times (NYSE: NYT).
Bankrate.com's information is also distributed through more than 500
newspapers. Bankrate, Inc. was acquired by Apax Partners, one of the world's
leading private equity investment group, in September 2009. Apax operates
across the United States, Europe and Asia and has more than 30 years of
investing experience. For more information on Apax, visit: www.Apax.com.

www.bankrate.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: The information contained in this release is available for
print or broadcast with attribution to Bankrate.com

For more information contact:
Kayleen Yates
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
kyates@bankrate.com
(917) 368-8677

SOURCE Bankrate, Inc.

Kayleen Yates, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, +1-917-368-8677,
kyates@bankrate.com