WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Mortgage rates remained flat in the United States last week, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly known as Freddie Mac, said on Thursday.
For the week ending June 13, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) in the United States remained unchanged at 3.82 percent from the previous week.
The 30-year FRM, the benchmark mortgage rate, was significantly lower than the averaged rate of 4.62 percent in the same period last year.
Freddie Mac noted that the 15-year FRM this week dropped to 3.26 percent, down from the previous week's reading of 3.28 percent. It was also lower than the 4.07 percent rate in the same period last year.
"Mortgage rates were mostly unchanged from last week due to easing of trade tensions with Mexico which helped stabilize markets," said Sam Khater, chief economist of Freddie Mac.
"These historically low rates should provide continued opportunities for current homeowners to refinance their mortgages-- which combined with new homebuyer activity -- will help sustain the momentum in the housing market in 2019," Khater added.
Freddie Mac, a corporation founded by U.S. Congress, aims to promote the stability and affordability in the U.S. housing market by purchasing mortgages from banks and other loan makers. The corporation has been conducting weekly surveys on U.S. mortgage rate since April 1971.
