Here's a look at the state of mortgage rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Dec. 16, 2009.

Mortgages

Mortgage rates jumped higher this week.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 9 basis points, to 5.13 percent. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

Meanwhile, this week's average 15-year fixed-rate mortgage -- a popular option for refinancing -- climbed 6 basis points, to 4.53 percent.

The average jumbo 30-year fixed edged up 1 basis point, to 6.01 percent.

Adjustable-rate mortgages split this week. The one-year adjustable-rate mortgage fell 11 basis points, to 5.28 percent. Meanwhile, the popular 5/1 ARM rose 5 basis points, to 4.6 percent.

Mortgage applications edged up a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent when compared to a week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. For the week ending Dec. 11, refinancing activity increased 0.9 percent, while applications for new purchases fell 3.6 percent.

In other mortgage news, housing starts rose 8.9 percent in November compared to the previous month, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Housing starts were down 12.4 percent year over year. Building permits rose 6 percent in November, but were down 7.3 percent year over year.

To find and compare mortgage rates in your area, visit Bankrate's interactive search tool.

See all interest rates content.

-- Chris Kissell