U.S. mortgage rates nudge up after hitting record low

U.S. mortgage rates rose a week after hitting yet another historic low, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.79% for the week ending Jan. 14 — up from 2.65% last week. The 2.65% rate was the lowest since tracking began in 1971. A year ago, mortgage rates stood at 3.65%. Low mortgage rates help propel U.S. home sales and the refinance market. “As Treasury yields have risen, it is putting pressure on mortgage rates to move up,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s…