Mortgage Rates hit low of 4.19%

Oct. 15, 2010:

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to 4.19 percent, the lowest level in decades. They were pushed down by lower Treasury bond yields. As a result, the average rate for 30-year fixed loans dropped to the lowest level on records dating back to 1971, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. It’s down from 4.27 percent the previous week. The last time rates were this low was in the early 1950s.

The Federal Reserve is leaning toward buying more Treasury bonds to drive down loan rates and boost the economy, according to minutes of closed-door deliberations released Tuesday. Economists predict Fed officials will approve a bond purchase program at their Nov. 2-3 meeting. Two Fed officials in recent remarks have suggested the new purchases shouldn’t exceed $500 billion.

The program would likely push mortgage rates down – possibly lower than 4.0 percent on the 30-year fixed loan.