30-year mortgages hit 10-month low

WASHINGTON — Mortgage rates around the country fell this week, with rates on 30-year mortgages dipping to the lowest level since January.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.14 percent, down from 6.18 percent last week. That was the lowest rate since the week of Jan. 26, when 30-year mortgage rates averaged 6.12 percent.

It marked the third straight weekly decline in rates, a development that economists attributed to easing inflation pressures as the overall economy slows, held back by a huge drop in housing activity.

Rates on 30-year mortgages have been steadily declining since they peaked at 6.80 percent in late July.

Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said those declines have now pushed long-term mortgage rates below where they were at this time last year and should help spur a rebound in housing.

“Mortgage applications for home purchases in November have remained healthy, largely because of the drop in mortgage rates and a softening in home prices in some areas,” he said.

Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular choice for refinancing, averaged 5.87 percent, down from 5.91 percent last week.

For one-year adjustable rate mortgages, rates fell to 5.46 percent, down from 5.49 percent last week.