After rising for two straight weeks, mortgage rates this week resum❀ed a downward trajectory to come in at their lowest levels since May.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.60%, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:down from 6.66% the prior week, data from Freddie Mac showed.  The average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages continued its pattern of decline, falling for the fifth straight week to hit 5.76%, down from last week’s 5.87% rate. Both rates are at their lowest levels since the spring.

“This is an encouraging development for the housing market and in particular first-time homebuyers who are sensitive to changes in housing affordability,”  said Sam Khater, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Freddie Mac chief economist. “However, as purch𓃲ase demand continues to thaw, it will put more pressure on already depleted inventory for sale.”

There is some hope that more housing supply may be coming, with an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:increase in building permits indi🌱cating that more housing con🥀struction is planned, while housing starts in December were up more than 7% over the prior year. 

The lower mortgage rates, along with an improved home-building environment, could help improve the outlook for beleaguered homebuyers in one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:most unaffordable 🌠housing markets in decades.