This week’s increase marked the highest level on the 30-year loan since mid-July, when the rate was 6.89%, according to Freddie Mac data. The lowest rate this year was 6.08% at the end of September, while the highest — 7.22% — was reached at the beginning of May.

Borrowing costs on a 30-year home loan increased to 6.85 percent from 6.72 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says.

Mortgage rates rose again this week to end the year slightly higher than where they began. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.85% for the week through Wednesday, according to Freddie Mac data. That’s up from 6.72% a week earlier. Average 15-year mortgage rates rose to 6% from 5.92%.

The rate rose to 6.85% from 6.72% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate on a 30-year mortgage averaged 6.61%. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since the week of July 11,