Mortgage rates on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell again in a weekly comparison from 4.60% to 4.51% this week, according to mortgage giant, Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates tend to follow the track of long term Treasury notes, and as the unemployment rate continues to decline investors have shifted their funds from Treasury notes into the safety of government bonds.

This would appear to be good news for the real estate market; however, the lower rates have done little to get the potential homebuyers off the sidelines.  High unemployment, continually falling home prices and tightened lending standards have kept Americans wary of the commitment of home ownership.


Freddie Mac collects mortgage rates from lenders across the nation Monday through Wednesday of each week.  Due to the close ties to the Treasury notes, the rates are capable of fluctuating significantly even on a given day.