Mortgage rates were on the move for the seventh consecutive week.

“As was almost universally expected, the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) closed the year with its one-and-only rate hike of 2016,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The consensus of the committee points to more rate hikes in 2017. However, the experience of this year combined with the policy uncertainty that accompanies a new Administration suggests a wait-and-see outlook. … If rates continue their upward trend, expect mortgage activity to be significantly subdued in 2017.”

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Dec. 15:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.16 percent, with an average 0.5 point, rising from last week’s 4.13 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 3.97 percent.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.37 percent, with an average 0.5 point, increasing from last week’s 3.36 percent average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.22 percent.
  • 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.19 percent, with an average 0.4 point, increasing from last week’s 3.17 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.03 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac