Here's a look at the state of mortgage rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Dec. 23, 2009.

Mortgages

Mortgage rates rose for the fourth straight week.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped 11 basis points, to 5.24 percent. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

Meanwhile, this week's average 15-year fixed-rate -- a popular option for refinancing -- rose 9 basis points, to 4.62 percent.

The average jumbo 30-year fixed soared 15 basis points, to 6.16 percent.

Adjustable-rate mortgages split this week. The one-year adjustable-rate mortgage plunged 18 basis points, to 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, the popular 5/1 ARM  rose 10 basis points, to 4.7 percent.

Mortgage applications plunged a seasonally adjusted 10.7 percent when compared to a week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. For the week ending Dec. 18, applications for new purchase sank 11.6 percent while refinancing activity was off 10.1 percent.

In other mortgage-related news:

• Sales of new homes unexpectedly plummeted 11.3 percent in November compared to a month earlier, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Sales were also off 9 percent year over year.
• Sales of existing homes jumped 7.4 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.54 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales shot up 44.1 percent year over year and are now at their highest level since February 2007.

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

See all interest rates content.

-- Chris Kissell