Homeowners have been feeling the pressure at the beginning of 2012 with a slight increase in mortgage rates, but recent surveys have shown a slight dip in fixed mortgage rates. According to articles in USNews (“Fixed Mortgage Rates Fall to All-time Low on Weak GDP Report, Euro Zone Concerns”) and CNNMoney (”Mortgage rates hit record lows”), average mortgage rates for homes on 30-year and 15-year fixed loans dropped to some of the lowest levels seen in the past 30 years. USNews reported that the 30-year fixed rate dropped to an average of 3.84%, falling from the previous 3.87% record set this past February. Similarly, 15-year rates fells to 3.07% and down from the record 3.11% set previously a few weeks prior.