Mortgage rates are well below their level from one year ago. According to Freddie Mac, the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell two basis points this week to 6.17% — 55 basis points lower than one year ago. The 15-year rate is down three basis points to 5.41%, more than a half-point lower than last October. “Mortgage rates decreased for the fourth consecutive week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The last few months have brought lower rates, and homebuyers are increasingly e ...