Mortgage rates increased in two weekly surveys this week, ending a nearly six-week run of steady or declining rates in the Freddie Mac (FRE) weekly survey. Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of agency-purchased loans put the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) stayed below 5% but increased 5bps to 4.92% with a 0.7 point for the week ending October 15. Last year, the 30-year FRM was 6.46%. Bankrate.com’s index, which tracks large US banks and thrifts, put the 30-year FRM at 5.32% with a 0.34 point, up 10bps from the week prior. The 15-year FRM rate was 4.37% with a 0.7 point in the Freddie Mac survey, up from 4.33% last week, but down from a year ago when it was 6.14%. Bankrate.com put the 15-year FRM at 4.7%, up 10bps. The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.38% with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it was 4.35%. A year ago, it was 6.14%. The one-year ARM averaged 4.6% with an average 0.5 point, up from 4.53% last week. Bankrate.com put the five-year ARM at 4.76%, up 10bps from last week. “Mortgage rates rose slightly over the week, but rates on 30-year fixed mortgages remained below 5% for the third consecutive week,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “Homeowners are taking advantage of these low rates to refinance their current balances. Over the past five weeks ending October 9, more than 3 out 5 mortgage applications were for refinancing, according the Mortgage Bankers Association.” Write to Austin Kilgore.