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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 27, 2008

Mortgage rates still rising

By Martin Crutsinger
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages rose again this week, to the highest level in more than nine months, reflecting concerns about how the Federal Reserve will respond to higher inflation pressures.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac reported yesterday that 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.45 percent this week, up from 6.42 percent last week.

It was the highest level for 30-year mortgages since the 6.46 percent average for the week of Sept. 9. It was the fifth consecutive weekly increase and the fifth week above 6 percent.

Other types of mortgages showed increases this week, according to the Freddie Mac survey.

Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 6.04 percent, up from 6.02 percent last week.

The five-year adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 5.99 percent, up from 5.89 percent. The one-year adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 5.27 percent, compared to 5.19 percent last week.

The housing market is facing numerous headwinds, from slumping prices, which are keeping potential buyers on the fence, to rising mortgage defaults, which are dumping more homes on an already glutted market.

The mortgage rates do not include add-on fees known as points. The nationwide fee for 30-year, 15-year and one-year mortgages averaged 0.6 point. The fee on five-year mortgages averaged 0.7 point.

A year ago, rates on 30-year mortgages stood at 6.67.

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