US mortgage rates hover close to eight-year peak

Washington - Higher rates have kept many would-be purchasers on the sidelines

Mortgage rates in the United States jumped this week to the highest level in almost eight years, a trend that is pulling down home sales and slowing home price growth.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said that the average rate on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage rose to 4.94 per cent, from 4.83 per cent last week. That is the highest level since February 2011. A year ago the rate was 3.9 per cent.
The average rate on a 15-year, fixed rate loan increased to 4.33 per cent, from 4.23 per cent last week.
Higher rates have kept many would-be purchasers on the sidelines. Sales of existing homes have fallen for six straight months, and sales of newly-built homes have declined for four months.
Freddie Mac says home price increases are slowing as a result, particularly in higher-priced coastal cities.
Mortgage rates have risen along with the yield on the 10-year note, which has jumped in the past year on expectations of additional short-term rate increases by the Federal Reserve, faster economic growth and potentially higher inflation.
The yield on the 10-year reached 3.23 per cent on Thursday, up nearly a full percentage point from 2.33 per cent a year ago. To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week.
The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates.
The average fee on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages was unchanged from last week at 0.5 point. The fee on 15-year mortgages ticked up by one-tenth to 0.5 point.
The average rate for five-year adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 4.14 per cent from 4.04 per cent last week. The fee remained at 0.3 point.