Long-term mortgage rates jump above 3 percent (June 24)
The average for the 30-year fixed was up from 2.93 percent last week and the highest since April 15. Continue reading at realestate.boston.com
Mortgage rates in the United States have risen above 3 percent for the first time in 10 weeks.
The average for a 30-year loan was 3.02 percent, up from 2.93 percent last week and the highest since April 15, Freddie Mac said Thursday.
“As the economy progresses and inflation remains elevated, we expect that rates will continue to gradually rise in the second half of the year,” Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said in a statement. “For those homeowners who have not yet refinanced — and there remain many borrowers who could benefit from doing so — now is the time.”
Mortgage rates, which hit a record low of 2.65 percent in January after plunging during the pandemic, have been hovering near 3 percent for several weeks. The cheaper borrowing costs have fueled the housing market, boosting buying power for Americans looking for properties.
Many homeowners have also been able to refinance their mortgages to save on monthly payments.
Even with the rise this week, mortgage rates are at historically low levels. And with demand for housing strong across the United States, the jump above 3 percent is unlikely to slow things down, according to Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist at LendingTree.
“It’s still a very attractive rate,” he said in an interview. “For someone who is trying to purchase a home, I don’t think this really changes your decision.”
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