30-year mortgage rates tumble to 4.31%

7/26/2013

WASHINGTON — Average rates on U.S. fixed mortgages fell for the second straight week, a welcome sign for homebuyers hoping to lock in lower rates that had spiked earlier this month.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average on the 30-year loan fell to 4.31 percent. That is down from 4.37 percent last week but nearly a full percentage point higher than in early May. The rate reached a two-year high of 4.51 percent two weeks ago.

The average rate on the 15-year fixed loan declined to 3.39 percent, down from 3.41 percent last week.