Mortgage rates

While Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate loan increased, other data providers show that product's pricing dropped from seven days earlier.

Last year was a tough year for the mortgage industry, but the best of the best managed to keep their volumes high.

Borrowers across all income levels and purchase price levels sought the discounts as interest rates rose past 7% last year.

Conventional and government-backed purchases both increased last week, even with a 12 basis point surge in the 30-year conforming average, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Stronger than expected demand and home prices drove the latest forecast.

Uncertainty about the economy and inflation drove the increase

The agency has been using the Freddie Mac weekly rate survey, but a methodology change by the GSE is the catalyst for the revision to determine the Average Prime Offer Rate for high-cost mortgages.

Several of our best of the best share how they were able to keep their pipelines active when industry-wide volume was well below record levels the year before.

Mixed economic signals left mortgage rates flat over the past seven days, with experts suggesting the end of Federal Reserve policy hikes might be coming as well.

With few clues coming from Federal Reserve officials about their next moves, the 30-year average dropped for a fourth straight week, according to Freddie Mac's latest survey.