The government’s report on December home sales is due out later this month.
It was at 5.87% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.
The uptick in the cost of home loans reflects a rise in the bond yields that lenders use as a guide to price mortgages, specifically the yield on the 10-year Treasury.
While sales of previously occupied US homes rose in November for the second straight month, the housing market remains in a slump and on track for its worst year since 1995.
The average long-term US mortgage rate ticked up again this week, remaining at its highest level since July.
The increase is occurring with the price of homes rising steadily.
