The national average on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage hit its highest level since summer, climbing to 6.04 percent this week from 6.01 percent last week, Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, said Thursday. The most recent long-term rate is the highest since it averaged 6.08 percent July 29.

A year ago, the 30-year rate averaged 5.52 percent.

For the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage, a popular option among those refinancing their home loans, the average was 5.58 percent this week, up slightly from 5.56 percent last week. One year earlier, the 15-year rate averaged 4.84 percent, Freddie Mac said.

Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages jumped to 5.43 percent this week from 5.35 percent last week.

This week's five-, 15- and 30-year rates carried an average fee of 0.7 point. A point is a lender's charge, with one point equalling 1 percent of a loan.

National one-year adjustable mortgages, which are loosely tied to the 10-year Treasury note, advanced to 4.33 percent this week from 4.24 percent last week. At this time last year, the one-year rate averaged 3.46 percent. This week's one-year rate carried an average fee of 0.8 point.

The average rates are based on a survey of 125 lenders nationwide, Freddie Mac reported.