Mortgage rates essentially remained flat from last week but have decreased nearly half a percent from their peak earlier this year. Despite these lower rates, buyers continue to pause, as reflected in tumbling new and existing home sales data.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.78 percent for the week ending July 25, 2024, down from last month when it averaged 6.86 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.81 percent.

• 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.07 percent, down from last month when it averaged 6.16 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.11 percent.