Mortgage rates stay around 4 percent

Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Survey found average fixed mortgage rates remained at historic lows around 4 percent over the past week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at or below 4 percent for the fifth consecutive week, while the 15-year fixed mortgage rate is at 3.3 percent.

The five-year ARM is averaged at 2.9 percent, down from 2.91 percent a week ago. The one-year ARM is averaged at 2.78 percent, down from 2.79 percent a week prior, as well.

Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac, said recent economic reports show the housing market has been sluggish for the first half of the fourth quarter of 2011, despite economic expansion in 11 of the 12 national districts.

"The extraordinarily low mortgage rates of the past month may provide a needed spur to housing activity," Nothaft said. "More optimistic consumers, lower house prices and bargain mortgage rates may have contributed to the 10.4 percent jump in pending home sales in October to the strongest pace since November 2010 and may bode well for future home sales."

For homeowners looking for the top lenders to obtain a mortgage from, LendingTree's Weekly Mortgage Rate Pulse has identified the best options in the country. Great Western Financial Services leads the lending industry, closely followed by LSI Mortgage Plus, Affinity Mortgage, HomePlus Mortgage and Royal United Mortgage.

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