The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage started the decade at about 7.5% in 1971 (the earliest year for which data is available), according to Freddie Mac. By 1979, the rate had risen to an average of ...

Reina Marszalek is a senior mortgage editor at Fox Money who has spent more than 10 years writing and editing content. Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible ...

FHA loans are insured by the federal government and financed through lenders that sell the loans into securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae. That backing lets investors accept slightly lower yields, ...