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Average US rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.69 percent

In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo, a sign with a sold sticker is posted in front of a row of new town homes in Richmond, Va. Freddie Mac reports on average U.S. mortgage rates on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo, a sign with a sold sticker is posted in front of a row of new town homes in Richmond, Va. Freddie Mac reports on average U.S. mortgage rates on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

By Associated Press February 12, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose this week yet remained near historically low levels.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac says the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage jumped to 3.69 percent from 3.59 percent last week. The average rate is still at its lowest level since May 2013.

The rate for the 15-year loan, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, increased to 2.99 percent from 2.92 percent last week.

A year ago, the average 30-year mortgage stood at 4.28 percent and the 15-year mortgage at 3.33 percent. Mortgage rates have remained low even though the Federal Reserve in October ended its monthly bond purchases, which were meant to hold down long-term rates.