U.S. long-term mortgage rates decline; 30-year average 4.10%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates declined this week for a second straight week, reversing the upward trend in April as a lure to potential home buyers.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.10% from 4.14% last week. By contrast, a year ago the benchmark rate stood at 4.55%.

The average rate for 15-year, fixed-rate home loans eased this week to 3.57% from 3.60% last week.

Mortgage costs are influenced by the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which was pushed lower this week as many investors concerned over the continuing U.S.-China trade war shifted money from volatile stocks to the bond market. Bond yields fall as prices rise.

The yield on the 10-year note was 2.48% late Wednesday, down from 2.5% a week earlier. It fell further to 2.44% around midday Thursday.

For this summer, Freddie Mac is expecting mortgage rates to be about a quarter to a half percentage point lower than a year earlier, a potential boost to home sales.

Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week to compile its mortgage rate figures.

The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates.

The average fee on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages was unchanged this week at 0.5 point.

The average fee for the 15-year mortgage held at 0.4 point.

The average rate for five-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 3.63% from 3.68% last week. The fee remained at 0.4 point.