Mortgage rates hit a seven-year high

U.S. mortgage rates jumped this week to the highest level in seven years, a trend that is pulling down home sales and slowing the growth of home prices.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.94 percent, from 4.83 percent last week. A year ago the rate was 3.9 percent.

The average rate on a 15year, fixed-rate loan increased to 4.33 percent, from 4.23 percent last week.

Higher rates have kept many would-be purchasers on the sidelines. Sales of existing homes have fallen for six straight months, and sales of newly built homes have declined for four months.

Freddie Mac says home price increases are slowing as a result, particularly in higher-priced coastal cities.

Mortgage rates have risen along with the yield on the 10-year note, which has jumped in the past year on expectations of additional short-term rate increases by the Federal Reserve, faster economic growth and potentially higher inflation.

The yield on the 10-year reached 3.23 percent Thursday, up nearly a full percentage point from 2.33 percent a year ago.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week.

The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates.

The average fee on 30year fixed-rate mortgages was unchanged from last week at 0.5 point. The fee on 15-year mortgages ticked up by one-tenth to 0.5 point.

The average rate for fiveyear adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 4.14 percent from 4.04 percent last week. The fee remained at 0.3 point.