By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate barely budged this week, staying close to 6% as the spring homebuying season nears.
The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate edged up to 6.11%, essentially flat compared to last week when it was 6.1%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.89%.
This is the latest increase since the average rate eased three weeks ago to 6.06%, its lowest level in more than three years.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also ticked up this week. That average rate inched up to 5.5% from 5.49% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.05%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.21% at midday Thursday, down from 4.23% a week ago.
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