30-year US mortgage rate drops for 5th straight week

By M ATT O TT Associated Press

The Average

long-term U.S. mortgage rate inched down for the fifth straight week, positive news for potential home buyers and a real estate market that’s been chilled by the Federal Reserve’s series of interest rate hikes the past year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average on the benchmark 30-year rate ticked down to 6.27% from 6.28% the previous week.

The average rate last year at this time was 5%.

The average long-term mortgage rate hit 7.08% in the fall — a two-decade high.

The recent decline in mortgage rates is good news for prospective homebuyers, many of whom were pushed to the sidelines during the past year as the Federal Reserve raised its main lending rate nine straight times in a bid to beat back stubborn, fourdecade high inflation.

Though supply remains

Deeds AGAWAM

Emtay Inc., to Vasile Todica and Rodica Todica, 127 Colemore St., $363,000.

Joseph F. Fitzpatrick and Barbara L. Fitzpatrick to Joshua J. Khalil and Amy M. Khalil, 142 Glendale Road, $515,000.

low, home prices are retreating slightly, another development that could lure buyers back into the market. The national median home price slipped 0.2% from February last year to $363,000, marking the first annual decline in 13 years, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Rising borrowing costs can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for homebuyers and cooled off a red-hot housing market. Before surging 14.5% in February, sales of existing homes had fallen for 12 straight months to the slowest pace in more than a dozen years.

Treasury yields have fluctuated wildly since the collapse of two mid-size U.S. banks last month.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which helps set rates for mortgages and other important loans, was at 3.41% Thursday but had been above 4% early in March.

The rate for a 15-year mortgage, popular with those refinancing their homes, fell this week to 5.54% from 5.64% last week. It was 4.17% one year ago.

Karen A. Greco, trustee, and Greco Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Abdulazeez Aljashaam, 582 Springfield St., $400,000.

Kathleen L. Stepanian, representative, and George A. Taupier, estate, to Irene N. Kaplan, 185 Southwick St., $310,000.

Melissa Jo Losito to Michael Savio and Lynn Savio, 63 North Alhambra Circle, $235,000.

Nathaniel W. Karns and Donna E. Cesan to Vitalii Chyzh and Oksana Chyzh, 1246 North St. Extension, $460,000.

Amherst

H. Dennis P. Ryan III, to Elaine A. Bratko, 167 East Hadley Road, $421,000.

Andrew W. Cowles and Jacqueline C. Cowles to Blooming Farm Properties LLC, South East Street, $100.

Andrew W. Cowles and Jacqueline Cowles to Blooming Farm Properties LLC, Lawrence Swamp $100.

Andrew W. Cowles and Jacqueline C. Cowles to Blooming Farm Properties LLC, South East Street, $100.

Alexander Frank Bukoski, Rachel L. Bukoski, and Rachel Poulton to Elizabeth Nicole Melton, 999 East Pleasant St., $360,000.

Ann C. Kenworthy, trustee, and Ann C. Kenworthy Trust of 2014 to Christie Jeanne Rosen, 93 High Point Drive, $655,000.

Jones Properties LP, to Richard J. Rhodes and Katayoun S. Rhodes, 115 Belchertown Road, $295,000.

Belchertown

Sergey Kaletin to Kimberly A. Desautels, 111 Granby Road, $667,500.

Christopher M. Bordenca and Andrea L. Bordenca to Ethan T. Gates and Caroline B. Evans, 9 Sarah Lane, $361,700.

Roy W. Cote and Karen L. Cote to Nicole L. Scott, 390 Chauncey Walker St., $100.

John G. Menard, John G. Menard, trustee, Peggy Menard, Peggy A. Menard, Peggy Menard, trustee, Peggy A. Menard, trustee, and 8 Ledgewood Drive Nominee Trust to Daniel A. Valinski, 8 Ledgewood Drive, $345,000.

David Fredenburgh to 9 Stadler Street LLC, 9 Stadler St., $100.

Lisa A. Ducharme to Andrew James Ducharme, 219 Federal St., $272,000.

Arlene L. Soleimani to Aco Bogoeski, 16 Poole Road, $480,000.

Jill Porowski to Robert G. Sherwood and Rebecca Sherwood, 40 Ware Road, $315,000.

Blandford

Mary L. Gerken-Newcomb to Jose A. Newcomb-Gerken, 70 Main St., $250,000.

Brimfield

Charles R. Tuttle III, representative, and Suzanne E. Tuttle, estate, to David Campbell and Kimberly Grant, 33 Forest Road, $255,000.

Darren Alan Wiemer and Penella Ann Wiemer to Rebecca Lauzon Adams, 22 Warren Road, $500,000.

Buckland

Leia Cardin, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Jeremy E. McIntosh, to Nicholas J. Ferlazzo and Sarah S. Olds, 80 Ashfield Road, $350,000.

Joyce C. Hollyday to Candace J. M. Cassin and Charles F. King, 75

North St., $320,000.

Chester

Joseph J. Kish and Martha E. Kish to Yakov Kronrod, 576 E River Road, $95,000.

Chicopee

Alden Credit Union to Curtis Girard and Susan Girard, 763 James St., $164,900.

Bank Of America to Robert John Brault, 54 Alfred St., $273,000.

Briarwood Fourteen LLC, to Naviah Investments LLC, 470 Memorial Drive, $8,400,000.

Briarwood One LLC, to Naviah 1738 LLC, 139-145 Meeting House Road, $1,736,296.

Briarwood Sixteen LLC, to Naviah Investments LLC, 359-373 Dale St., $4,575,000.

Elizabeth A. Robert, trustee and representative, Lillian Y. Kurtz, estate, and William H. Kurtz & Lillian Y. Kurtz Trust, trustee of, to Tyler Erdahl and Keisha Erdahl, 51 Lawndale St., $230,000.

Evelyn M. Beaulieu to Jeffrey Beaulieu, 72 Boulay Circle, $300,000. George F. Fitzgerald Jr., to Javier Rivera Hernandez, 72 Beauchamp Terrace, $245,000.

Jason Balut to Tony James Sicard and Cristina Lynn Sicard, 113 Wheatland Ave., $320,000.

Linda I. Charbonneau to Roberto Alfarone and Robinlynn Alfarone, 110 Hilton St., $273,000.

Michael P. Jette Sr., and Laurie Ferry to Shannon Gabrielle Brady and Nicholas W. Brady, 142 Jacob St., $285,000.

Thanh P. Monat, trustee, and 123125 Meadow Street Realty Trust, trustee of, to Posiadlosc LLC, 123125 Meadow St., $165,000.

Todd Delnegro and William D. Kapinos to Ramsey Tracy, 138-140 Columba St., $335,000.

Wicked Deals LLC, to Carlos J.