Mortgage rates rose to 5.08 percent last week from 4.99 percent a week earlier, pushing the average interest rate offered on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to its highest level since the first week of 2010, according to Freddie Mac. The increase in mortgage rates occurred as long-term interest rates rose higher due to concerns about inflation as the economy improves, and as the Federal Reserve ended its program to buy $1.25 trillion in mortgage-backed bonds issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other government-sponsored agencies. Also, the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 4.39 percent from 4.34 percent, while 5-year hybrid mortgages fell to 4.10 percent from 4.14 percent.
[SOURCES: Information, Inc.; Freddie Mac]
