Mortgage rates continue to climb; 30-year at 4.35%

Average fixed mortgage rates rose again this week in response to more reports that portrayed the economy as strengthening.

Freddie Mac said the average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage was 4.35 percent this week, the highest it’s been since mid-September when it averaged 4.5 percent. It was the second consecutive weekly increase. The average rate was 4.16 percent last week and 3.34 percent a year ago.

The average interest rate on a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3,35 percent, up from with 3.27 percent last week and 2.65 percent a year ago.