Fixed mortgage rates backed off this week from a two-year high, Freddie Mac said Thursday, with lenders offering the 30-year home loan at an average of 4.51% compared with 4.58% a week ago.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.54%, down from 3.6%, according to Freddie Mac. Starting interest rates for popular types of variable-rate loans were up slightly, the McLean, Va., housing finance giant said.