Mortgage rates held steady at last week’s levels and maintained three-month lows for the week ending September 24, according to Freddie Mac (FRE). The average rate for 30-year fixed rate mortgages (FRM) hovered at 5.04% with a 0.6 point, unmoved from last week. At this time last year, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.09%. The 15-year FRM registered 4.46% with an average 0.6 point down slightly from last week when it averaged 4.47%. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.77%. The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) remained unchanged from last week at 4.51% with an average 0.5 point. This time last year, the five-year ARM averaged 6.02%. The one-year Treasury indexed ARM averaged 4.52% with an average 0.6 point, dropping from 4.58% last week and from 5.03% a year ago. In its September 23rd policy statement, the Federal Reserve indicated that it plans to keep its benchmark interest rate exceptionally low for an extended period, according the Freddie Mac release. According to separate survey by Bankrate.com of large US lenders, mortgage rates dropped slightly from last week. The 30-year FRM dipped to 5.36% from 5.38%. The 15-year FRM increased to 4.74% from 4.72% a week ago, and the five-year ARM fell to 4.8% from 4.89% a week ago. Write to Jon Prior.