Average rate on a 30-year mortgage eased this week to 6.86%, lowest level since early April
Associated PressLOS ANGELES — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage eased again this week, extending a welcome trend for prospective homebuyers facing record-high home prices. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage continues to trend down, hitting the lowest level in almost three months,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “By historical standards, the economy is in good shape, and we expect rates to continue to come down over the summer months, bringing additional homebuyers back into the market.” Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. With only one rate cut expected before the end of this year, “relief may come too little and too late for many first-time homebuyers,” said Jiayi Xu, an economist at Realtor.com.