The table below, with information provided by Freddie Mac, shows the annual average commitment rates and points for 30 year conventional fixed rate loans from 1970 to present.  When you tell your clients that the interest rates are at an all-time "historical low", show them this table to demonstrate it! 

YEAR               RATE                   PTS                                   YEAR                     RATE                       PTS

1970               7.60                        n/a                                 1990                     10.13                      2.1

1971               7.55                      n/a                                   1991                      9.25                        2.0

1972               7.38                      0.9                                   1992                      8.39                       1.7

1973               8.04                      1.0                                   1993                      7.31                       1.6

1974              9.19                       1.2                                   1994                      8.38                       1.8

1975              9.05                       1.1                                   1995                      7.93                       1.8

1976              8.87                       1.2                                   1996                      7.81                       1.7

1977              8.85                       1.1                                   1997                      7.60                       1.7

1978              9.64                       1.3                                   1998                      6.94                       1.1

1979             11.20                     1.6                                    1999                      7.44                        1.0

1980             13.74                     1.8                                    2000                      8.05                        1.0

1981             16.63                     2.1                                    2001                      6.97                        0.9

1982             16.04                     2.2                                    2002                      6.54                        0.6

1983             13.24                     2.1                                    2003                      5.83                        0.6

1984             13.88                     2.5                                    2004                      5.84                        0.7

1985             12.43                     2.5                                    2005                      5.87                        0.6

1986              10.19                     2.2                                   2006                      6.41                        0.5

1987              10.21                     2.2                                   2007                      6.34                        0.4

1988              10.34                     2.1                                   2008                      6.03                        0.6

1989              10.32                     2.1                                   2009                      5.04                        0.7

                                                                                             2010                      4.96                        0.7