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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Average U.S. mortgage rates fall; 30-year at 3.96 percent

This Monday, July 10, 2017, photo shows a house for sale in North Andover, Mass. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week after two straight weeks of increases. The benchmark 30-year rate slipped back below the significant 4 percent level.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to an average 3.96 percent from 4.03 percent last week. It stood at 3.45 percent a year ago and averaged a record low 3.65 percent in 2016.

The rate on 15-year, fixed-rate home loans, popular with homeowners who are refinancing their mortgages, eased to 3.23 percent from 3.29 percent last week.