Average US mortgage rates fell this week
In this Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, photo a coming soon for sale sign sits in front of a home in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas. On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
FILE- This Oct. 3, 2018, file photo shows a home offered for sale in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Ga. On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
U.S. long-term mortgage rates dipped this week to the lowest average in more than a year, providing a possible boost to the start of the Spring homebuying season in March.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage declined to 4.35 percent from 4.37 percent last week. The key 30-year home borrowing rate averaged 4.40 percent a year ago. This week was the lowest average since the week of February 8, 2018.
The average rate this week for 15-year, fixed-rate loans declined to 3.78 percent from 3.81 percent.
Mortgage rates hew closely to changes in the interest charged on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes. Lower borrowing costs should help boost home sales, as rising mortgage rates in 2018 caused homebuying to tumble last year.