Mortgage rates end near 2014 lows

Average U.S. mortgage rates rose slightly during the last week of 2014, but the benchmark 30-year rate stayed near a 19-month low.

While average fixed mortgage rates moved slightly higher during the last week of 2014, the average 30-year fixed-rate ended the year below 4%, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.87% with an average 0.6 point for the week ending December 31, 2014, up from the previous week when it averaged 3.83%.  A year ago at this time, the 30-year mortgage averaged 4.53%

"While mortgage rates edged up… they remain near 2014 lows. Looking at full year data, the 30-year fixed-rate average for 2014 was 4.17%, the highest annual average since 2011,”said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.15% with an average 0.6 point during the last week of 2014, up from the previous when it averaged 3.1%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year mortgage averaged 3.55%.