Mortgage rates tick higher for second straight week

Mortgage rates ticked higher for the second straight week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage increased to 6.24% from last week's reading of 6.22%. The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.78% a year ago.NEARLY 1 IN 5 AMERICAN HOMES SLASH PRICES AS BUYERS GAIN UPPER HAND IN SHIFTING MARKET"This near-flat movement reflects a broader market pause, as sentiment surrounding the government’s reopening is tempered by lingering fiscal and economic uncertainty,"