This week, the average long-term mortgage rate in the United States has remained largely unchanged, hovering around the 6% mark as the spring homebuying season approaches.

According to Freddie Mac, the standard 30-year fixed mortgage rate experienced a slight uptick to 6.11%, nearly identical to last week’s rate of 6.1%. This time last year, the rate was notably higher at 6.89%.

The recent increase follows a previous dip three weeks ago when the average rate fell to 6.06%, marking its lowest point in over three years.

For 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, which are commonly chosen by homeowners looking to refinance, the rate rose slightly this week. It increased marginally to 5.5% from last week’s 5.49%. At the same period last year, this rate stood at 6.05%, as reported by Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates are shaped by a variety of influences, including the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions and the economic and inflation expectations of bond market investors. They tend to move in line with the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a benchmark for setting home loan prices.

As of midday Thursday, the 10-year Treasury yield was recorded at 4.21%, a slight decrease from 4.23% the previous week.