Mortgage rates

FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019, file photo a sign stands outside a home for sale in southeast Denver. On Thursday, Dec. 5, Freddie Mac reports on this week's average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
December 05, 2019 - 10:32 am

US long-term mortgage rates steady; 30-year loan at 3.68%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates held steady this week amid mixed signs in the housing market. Rates remain at historically low levels as a lure to prospective homebuyers. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was unchanged...
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FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2019 file photo a sign rests in front of a newly constructed home, in Westwood, Mass. On Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Commerce Department reports on sales of new homes in October. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
November 26, 2019 - 7:22 am

New home sales slipped 0.7% in October but remain solid

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new homes dipped slightly in October compared with September but remain well above levels of a year ago, with lower mortgage rates helping spur a rebound in purchases. The annual rate of single-family new-home sales slipped 0.7% last month to a seasonally adjusted 733,000...
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November 19, 2019 - 5:33 am

US housing starts climbed 3.8% in October

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home building jumped 3.8% in October, a positive sign for the overall economy as developers anticipate steady demand. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that housing starts reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.31 million. Starts for single-family houses were up 2...
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FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2019, file photo an under contract sign is displayed along Park Avenue in Richmond, Va. On Thursday, Sept. 19, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in August. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
September 19, 2019 - 7:57 am

Mortgage rates boosted US home sales 1.3% in August

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales rose 1.3% in August to the highest level in 17 months, as mortgage rates near historic lows have spurred a rush of home-buying. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that homes sold last month at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.49 million...
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Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
September 18, 2019 - 1:03 pm

What the Fed's rate cut means for you

The Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate again, big news for the U.S. economy but something that will likely have a muted impact on Americans' personal finances, experts say. That's because the reduction doesn't offset the increases of recent years. And as the key rate creeps closer...
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In this Sept. 3, 2019, photo a sign rests in front of a newly constructed home, in Westwood, Mass. On Thursday, Sept. 12, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
September 12, 2019 - 9:28 am

US long-term mortgage rates rise, with 30-year at 3.56%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose this week but remained at historically low levels. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 3.56% from 3.49% last week. Average rates on the benchmark loan have remained below 3.6% for...
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In this Spet. 9, 2019, photo, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington. Trump administration officials are coming before Congress to defend their plan for ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the giant mortgage finance companies that nearly collapsed in the financial crisis 11 years ago and were bailed out at cost to taxpayers of $187 billion. Treasury Mnuchin and Housing and HUD Secretary Ben Carson are testifying Sept. 10 before the Senate Banking Committee on the plan for returning Fannie and Freddie to private ownership. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
September 10, 2019 - 9:37 am

Officials spar with senators over plan for mortgage giants

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration officials on Tuesday defended their plan to Congress for ending government control of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, clashing with Democratic senators on whether the change would raise home borrowing costs and neglect lower-income...
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FILE - This Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, file photo shows the Fannie Mae headquarters in Washington. The Trump administration has unveiled its plan for ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, those are the two giant mortgage finance companies that nearly collapsed in the financial crisis 11 years ago and were bailed out by taxpayers at a total cost of $187 billion, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
September 05, 2019 - 4:17 pm

Administration unveils plan to privatize Fannie, Freddie

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has unveiled its plan for ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two giant mortgage finance companies that nearly collapsed in the financial crisis 11 years ago and were bailed out at a total cost to taxpayers of $187 billion. The...
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In this Sept. 3, 2019 photo a sign rests in front of a newly constructed home, in Westwood, Mass. On Thursday, Sept. 5, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
September 05, 2019 - 9:02 am

Long-term mortgage rates dip; 30-year at 3-year low of 3.49%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell this week, with the average on the key 30-year loan reaching its lowest point in nearly three years. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year mortgage declined to 3.49% from 3.58% last week. The average rate hasn't...
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In this Aug. 16, 2019, photo for sale signs beckon buyers to homes along Park Avenue in Richmond, Va. On Thursday, Aug. 29, Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
August 29, 2019 - 7:10 am

Average 30-year mortgage rates tick up to 3.58%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates ticked up slightly this week, yet they remain near historic lows. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan rose to 3.58% from 3.55% last week. Mortgage rates have fallen sharply as a slowing global economy and...
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