30-year mortgage rate falls to 7.24% - the lowest this month - in Freddie Mac's Oct. 29 survey, easing exit-buyer math for metro Atlanta flippers

Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Oct. 30 with data through Oct. 29, put the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 7.24%, down from 7.32% the prior week and the lowest level this month; the 15-year fixed averaged 6.60%, down from 6.68%. A year ago the 30-year averaged 6.17%, and the survey noted the decline is modestly boosting purchasing power for prospective buyers. For a fix-and-flipper: exit-buyer affordability is the demand lever on every listing - a falling rate trend into fall widens the buyer pool for finished product and supports holding out for full-price offers, though financing still costs about a point more than a year ago.