Rates at 8-month high on 30-year home loans
WASHINGTON — Rates for 30-year home loans surged last week, rising to the highest level in eight months due to the improving economy and the end of a government push to keep rates low.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 5.21 percent this week, up from 5.08 percent a week earlier, Freddie Mac said yesterday. That’s the highest since mid-August, when the average rate was 5.29 percent.
Rates had dropped to a record low of 4.71 percent in December, pushed down by a campaign by the Federal Reserve to reduce borrowing costs for consumers. The program ended last week, but the Fed left the door open to reviving the program if the economy weakens.
Treasury yields have climbed steadily in recent weeks because of weak demand. The government has had to offer a better interest rate to sell its bonds as investors shift toward stocks and riskier corporate debt.
The 10-year yield rose above 4 percent on Monday for the first time since June, but fell back to 3.85 percent yesterday.
This week, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.52 percent, up from 4.39 percent last week.
Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 4.25 percent, up from 4.1 percent a week earlier. Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 4.14 percent from 4.05 percent.
The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. One point is equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount.
