Mortgage rates still down

Mortgage rates nationwide remained steady today after falling as much as half a percentage point yesterday following the U.S. government's takeover of financial giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

National rates remained a little over 6 percent today for a 30-year fixed rate after falling from about 6.5 last week, said Bankrate.com financial analyst Greg McBride.

Drew Grandi of Dynamic Capital Mortgage Inc. in Brookline said his rate for the most qualified borrowers dropped to 5.5 percent today -- a number not even on the table a day before. The average rate for a 30-year fixed held at 5.625, he said.

Because of the dramatic shift, potential home buyers and others hope rates will stay steady or continue to fall. They hope the U.S. Treasury Department's takeover will provide confidence in the markets, rather than concern about its potential cost to taxpayers.

"It has been such a large shift in a very short time period, I will feel more comfortable in about two weeks,'' Grandi said.

(By Jenifer McKim, Globe Staff)