Long-term mortgage rate rises to 6.57%; highest level since mid March

By A LEX VEIGA Associated Press

THE AVERAGE long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week to its highest level since mid March, driving up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers facing a housing market that’s constrained by a dearth of homes for sale.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 6.57% from 6.39% last week. The average rate a year ago was 5.10%.

High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for homebuyers, limiting how much buyers can afford in a market that remains unaffordable to many Americans after years of soaring home prices and limited housing inventory.

The median monthly payment listed on applications for home purchase loans in April rose to $2,112, up nearly 12% from a year ago and a 0.9% increase from March, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday.

The average rate on a 30year home loan has risen two weeks in a row, echoing moves in the 10-year Trea-

Deeds AGAWAM

Courtney Lavimodiere, Courtney Vander Werff and Charles Joseph Lavimodiere III, to Dustin Teich, 70 Plantation Drive, $265,000.

Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Azusa Realty Trust, trustee of, to Carolyn Pacheco, 323 Southwick St., $290,000.

Jeffrey M. Tobias and Allison Tobias to Victoria Weltlich, 413 North St., $320,000.

sury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans.

The 10-year Treasury yield has been mostly rising of late, climbing to 3.79% in afternoon trading Thursday. Two weeks ago, it was at 3.39%.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell 23.2% in the 12 months ended in April, marking nine straight months of annual sales declines of 20% or more, according to the National Association of Realtors. The national median home price fell to $388,800 last month — down 1.7% from a year earlier and the biggest yearover-year drop since January 2012.

The modest pullback in home prices reflects heated competition among buyers, especially those vying for the most affordable homes. At least one-third of the homes sold last month went for more than their list price, according to the NAR.

The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, rose to 5.97% this week from 5.75% last week. A year ago, it averaged 4.31%, Freddie Mac said.

Kelly A. Grassetti, Kelly Anne Kularski and Allan Grassetti to Megan O’Donnell, 118 River Road, $310,000.

Mary L. Kuliesh to Edward Tessier, 203 Regency Park Drive, $80,000.

Rika Ann Woyan to Roxanne Parent, 17 Mansion Woods, Unit B, $235,000.

Amherst

Hasung Song to Nathan T. Wilson and Michelle Railsback Wilson, 665 West St., $430,665.

James P. Keefe to Carolyn Emberley, 664 Main St., $263,000.

Geoffrey C. Dawe to Amee Trivedi and Prashant Meckoni, 792 East Pleasant St., $469,000.

Amherst-South Pleasant LLC, to South Pleasant Street LLC, 55 South Pleasant St., $400,000.

Robert W. Jackson and Charlotte Anne Jackson to Courtney O’Neil Rose and Carol Joan Newman-Rose, Wildflower Drive, $132,000.

Elizabeth J. Mullins, personal representative, James W. Pistrang, personal representative, and Judith Pistrang, estate, to Michael S. Cary and Jane D. Cary, 20 Mcintosh Drive, $450,000.

Ben S. Branch and Sherry Lee Branch to Matthew Fuller and Janelle Bosse, 83 Larkspur Drive, $800,000.

Allison B. Green to Heather Monoc, 87 Pine Grove, $205,000.

Belchertown

John Henry Harstad, estate, and Raymond L. Mitchell, personal representative, to Katharine Elise Wyland and Kara Riemer, 360 Old Enfield Road, $357,000.

Orin L. Bracey Jr., and MaryEllen O’Reilly-Bracey to M & G Land Development LLC, Munsell Street, $90,000.

Elizabeth A. Banas and George H. Banas to Sibongile Mafu, 85 North Main St., $295,000.

Donna M. Lusignan to Caleb M. Holmberg and Caleb Holmberg, 251 Rockrimmon St., $379,900. Bell Property Corp., to Jake Trombley and Brittany Fenton, Woodland Lane, $120,000.

LaFleur & Son Inc., and LJ Development LLC, to Expedio Group LLC, Franklin Street, $80,000.

BRIMFIELD

Jonathan Stone to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Methuselah Realty Trust, trustee of, 26 Hollow Road, $194,750.

Pamela J. Tavares and Randy A. Dion to Paul Kosiba and Nicole Santley, 71 West Old Sturbridge Road, $345,000.

Charlemont

N. Douglas Powers to N. Douglas Powers and Susan L. Powers, trustees of the N. Douglas Powers 2007 Revocable Trust, and N. Douglas Powers and Susan L. Powers, trustees of the Susan L. Powers 2007 Revocable Trust, Maxwell Road, $100.

Anthony J. Grey and Elizabeth C. Grey to JH Deerfield Valley Properties LLC, 14 East Harmony Road, $250,000.

Chicopee

Chabot Burnett & Carrier LLC, to RTNC Auto Wash Inc., 919 Meadow St., $400,000.

Deonte J. Daniels to Angelo Waiters, 42 Tremont St., $225,000.

Eileen Pare to Kyle Pare, 803 James St., $300,000.

Gwendolyn A. Dupont to Lois L. Burns, 234 Greenwood Terrace, $210,000.

James R. Gosselin, Donna M. Fugere, Julie A. Nadeau and Julie Gosslin to Joseph Evborokhai, 16 Adams St., $361,000.

Marissa M. Deady to Fallah Razzak, 115 South St., #D, $135,000.

Pamela A. Rousseau to Tokyo S. Baldwin and Justin T. Rahn, 52 McCarthy Ave., $240,000.

Patricia Biela to Kyle Pare, 803 James St., $338,633.

Richard E. Jette and Phyllis P. Jette to Murat O. Kavlak, 53 Deslauriers St., $285,000.

Salim Abdoo to Cynthia I. Davila Acevedo, 50 Joy St., $285,000. Speedway LLC, to Chicopee Food Stop LLC, 1423 Memorial Drive, $1,300,000.

U S Bank, trustee, and RMAC Trust Series 2018 G-CTT, trustee of, to Mass Pike LLC, 57 Willwood St., $128,701.

Colrain

Ralph E. Hall, trustee of Hall Realty Trust, to Jonathan Goodell, Thompson Road, $7,000.

Conway

Susan Bridge to Alison Sinkler, 37 Fisher Place Road, $310,000.

Edwin B. Strange and Kristen B. Strange to Sarah A. Sullivan, 434 South Shirkshire Road, $291,000.

Deerfield

Arthur W. Rogers, II, personal representative of the Estate of Arthur A. Rogers, and Rogers SEE DEEDS, PAGE F8