Mortgage Rates Up Sharply from Start of Year

Washington, DC, Dec. 27, 2013 -- Thirty-year mortgage rates are closing out the year more than a percentage point higher than at the beginning of the year, according to Freddie Mac.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 4.48% in the week ended Dec. 26, up from 3.34% in January. On a relative basis, that's up about 33%.

The average rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage didn't rise quite as much, hitting 3.52% this week from 2.64% in January.

Mortgage rates hit their lows for the year in April and peaked in August. From there they trended down until the end of October, but have been rising ever since.