U.S. 30-Year Mortgage Rate Falls to 7.32% in First Weekly Drop Since August

A U.S. home loan benchmark moved lower in the week ended Oct. 22: the 30-year fixed average reached 7.32%, its first weekly decline since Aug. 20 after two readings at 7.40%, easing a key borrowing cost for homebuyers.

The 15-year fixed-rate average also fell, to 6.68% from 6.71% a week earlier. Current averages remained above their year-earlier levels: 30-year loans averaged 6.19% then, while 15-year loans averaged 5.44%.

Separately, the 10-year Treasury par yield stood at 4.96% on Oct. 22, below its 5.24% reading on Oct. 9. Daily readings varied between those dates and use indicative bid quotes taken near 3:30 p.m. ET (19:30 UTC).

The mortgage survey sample is limited to conventional, conforming purchase loans that are fully amortizing and made to borrowers with a 20% down payment and excellent credit. The decline follows a fourth-quarter outlook for mortgage rates near 7%.