30-year rate drops from 2-year high

Fixed mortgage rates backed off this week from a two-year high. Freddie Mac said, with lenders offering the 30-year home loan at an average of 4.51% compared with 4.58% a week ago.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.54%, down from 3.6% according to Freddie Mac. starting interest rates for popular typoes of variable-rate loans were up slightly, the McLean, Va., housing finance giant said.