“While mortgage rates have increased by one-half of a percentage point so far this year, it has not impacted home purchase demand, which continues to grow this spring,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The observed buyer resiliency in the face of higher rates reflects the healthy economy and strong consumer confidence, which are important drivers of home sales activity.
Freddie Mac reports the following national averages for the week ending May 3:
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.55 percent, with an average 0.5 point, dropping from last week’s 4.58 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.02 percent.
- 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.03 percent, with an average 0.4 point, rising from last week’s 4.02 percent average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.27 percent.
Source: Freddie Mac