Mortgage Rate Steady

According to Freddie Mac's weekly survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged from 6.18% average last week. In 2006, the lowest point for the mortgage was seen on Jan. 19, when it hit 6.1%. The rate was 6.21% one year back. The 15-year fixed rate averaged at 5.94% this week -- up slightly from last week's 5.93%. At this time last year this rate was 5.76%.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.02%, up from 5.98% average last week. The hybrid averaged 5.78% a year ago. One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.42%, down from 5.47% of last week. This rate averaged 5.16% a year ago.

The unchanged weekly status of the long term rate reflects the mixed messages provided by recent economic indicators. Tomorrow's job report from Labor department may act as a catalyst for the direction of next week's rate.