Mortgage rates climb to highs not seen in four years

Mortgage rates broke out of their rut this week, with the 30-year fixed-rate average reaching its highest level in four years.

According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average climbed to 4.47 percent with an average 0.5 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It was 4.42 percent a week ago and 3.97 percent a year ago.

The jump of five basis points – a basis point is 0.01 percentage point – was the largest weekly increase of the year, putting the 30-year fixed rate at a level it hadn’t been at since January 2014.

The 15-year fixed-rate average jumped to 3.94 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 3.87 percent a week ago and 3.23 percent a year ago. The five-year adjustable-rate average rose to 3.67 percent with an average 0.3 point. It was 3.61 percent a week ago and 3.10 percent a year ago.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve released its latest “beige book” – a report on economic conditions in its 12 districts – which showed the U.S. economy expanding at a modest pace. Good economic news tends to be bad for mortgage rates because a strong economy raises fears about inflation. Inflation causes fixed-income investments such as bonds to lose value, and that causes their yields to rise.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury has steadily moved higher over the past week, rising to 2.87 percent Wednesday. Mortgage rates generally track the same path as long-term bond yields. When yields go up, home loan rates tend to go up.

“Geopolitical headlines have temporarily seized markets’ attention – and could do so again this week – but the underlying macroeconomic fundamentals continue to point to a relatively strong U.S. economy and gradually rising rates over the coming months,” said Aaron Terrazas, senior economist at Zillow. “Several speeches by key 1/8Federal Open Market Committee 3/8 voters and incoming housing data early next week will likely further buttress that view.”

Bankrate.com, which puts out a weekly mortgage rate trend index, found more than half of the experts it surveyed say rates will continue to rise in the coming week. Michael Becker, branch manager of Sierra Pacific Mortgage, is one who predicts higher rates.

“As earnings season begins, a familiar pattern of the last few years is re-emerging,” Becker said. “It’s one where earnings beat expectations and stocks rally as a result. As often happens when stocks rally, bonds sell off and yields or rates rise. Because of this, I expect rates to rise in the coming week.”

Meanwhile, after a couple of slow weeks, mortgage applications picked up last week, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The market composite index – a measure of total loan application volume – increased 4.9 percent from a week earlier. The refinance index grew 4 percent, while the purchase index rose 6 percent.

The refinance share of mortgage activity accounted for 37.6 percent of all applications.

“After a bit of a slow start to the spring home buying season, home purchase applications ticked up, as the weather warmed and the Easter holiday passed,” MBA president David Stevens said. “Conventional home purchase mortgages hit their highest level since January 2009, while the refinance share of mortgage activity was its lowest since September 2008.”