WASHINGTON – U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week. They remain at historically low levels, now around a percentage point below a year ago.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year benchmark loan increased to 2.84% from 2.78% from last week.
By contrast, the rate averaged 3.75% a year ago.The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up to 2.34% from 2.32%.Breaking their downward trend through most of this year, mortgage rates were bolstered by the news Monday that a COVID-19 vaccine may be 90% effective, based on early and incomplete test results.The vaccine announcement came two days after Joe Biden became president-elect upon defeating President Donald Trump by crossing the.