Mortgage rates highest since 2011

The 30-year fixed rate climbs to 4.94 percent from last week’s 4.83.

WASHINGTON — Strong employment numbers caused mortgage rates to take off, with the 30-year fixed-rate average the highest it has been in nearly eight years.

According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average jumped to 4.94 percent with an average 0.5 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It was 4.83 percent a week ago and 3.90 percent a year ago. The 30-year fixed was last this high in February 2011.

The 15-year fixed-rate average climbed to 4.33 percent with an average 0.5 point. It was 4.23 percent a week ago and 3.24 percent a year ago. The five-year adjustable rate average rose to 4.14 percent with an average 0.3 point. It was 4.04 percent a week ago and 3.22 percent a year ago.

“The all-important read on the American labor market showed stronger than expected employment and wage growth, which gives the Federal Reserve yet another data point suggesting that the U.S. economy can withstand higher interest rates,” said Aaron Terrazas, senior economist at Zillow. “The upward momentum for rates is likely to continue in the near term.”

The Federal Reserve met Thursday and did not raise its benchmark rate. The central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its decisions influence them.

Bankrate.com, which puts out a weekly mortgage rate trend index, found the experts it surveyed were almost evenly split on where rates are headed. Half said they will continue to rise in the coming week. The other half expect them to remain relatively stable.

Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, predicts rates will rise.

“No Fed rate hike this week but clear indications of another to come in December will push bond yields and mortgage rates a bit higher,” McBride said.

Michael Becker, branch manager at Sierra Pacific Mortgage, says rates will hold steady.

“With a lack of economic news or reports to move markets, I expect bond yields and mortgage rates to remain flat in the coming week,” Becker said.

With rates rising, mortgage applications continued to diminish, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The market composite index — a measure of total loan application volume — declined 4 percent from a week earlier. The refinance index fell 3 percent from the previous week, while the purchase index dropped 1 percent.