McLEAN, VA -- Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.13 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending March 13, 2008, up from last week when it averaged 6.03 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.14 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.60 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.47 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.88 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 5.58 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.34 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.90 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.14 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it was 4.94 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.42 percent

"Average mortgage rates were up for all loan products reported," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "However, for the first 11 weeks so far this year, the average 30-year fixed rate is still below 5.9 percent, and the average 30-year rate in January was the lowest since July 2005."

"The combination of lower house prices and lower mortgage rates contributed to a more affordable market for homebuyers. The National Association of Realtors® reported that January's Pending Home Sales Index held unchanged from December, contrary to the consensus expectation of a 1 percent slide, signaling that existing home sales in February could hold steady from January's level."