US mortgage rates jump to highest level in nearly 8 years
U.S. mortgage rates 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 Thursday 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.