U.S. mortgage rates shift lower

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Long-term U.S. mortgage rates were lower after a four-week stall, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Thursday.

Rates for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dropped from 3.56 percent with an average 0.8 point to 3.51 percent, Freddie Mac said.

Rates for 15-year contracts dropped in the latest survey from 2.77 percent to 2.76 percent with an average 0.8 point.

One point is equal to 1 percent of the amount of the loan and is typically paid up front. It includes a corresponding discount on the loan's long-term interest rates.

Interest rates for five-year adjustable rate mortgages slid from 2.64 percent with an average of 0.6 points to 2.61 percent.

One-year adjustable rate mortgages using 10-year bonds as a benchmark, averaged 2.64 percent with 0.4 point in the week, down from 2.65 percent in the previous week.

Rates are moving lower just before the spring home-buying season, Freddie Mac noted.