US mortgage interest rates fall to levels since February — boosting buyers' demand

2024/8/2 2:50 JST (some excerpts)

Mortgage interest rates in the US fell to a low level for the first time in 6 months, and the situation where it is difficult for consumers to acquire homes has been partially mitigated.
　　According to Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan and Mortgage Corporation)'s announcement on the 1st, the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate was 6.73%, down from 6.78% last week.
　　The decline in mortgage interest rates, which had remained above 7%, is stimulating demand for home purchases. The June used housing contract index, which was announced earlier, rose for the first time in 3 months. Normally, transactions are completed 1 to 2 months after sales are concluded, so the second-hand housing sales contract index is seen as a leading indicator for second-hand housing sales.