Mortgage rates are up, but still under 7%. Today’s national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.81%, according to Bankrate. If you choose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, the average rate is 6.

Summary: Mortgage rates in the U.S. climbed for a second straight week, with the average for 30-year, fixed loans reaching 6.75%, up from 6.72% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. This marks the second consecutive week of increases after five weeks of declines earlier in the summer.

When rates fell to around 6.7% (the lowest level in months) in early July, applications for home loans promptly ticked up, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. But when the average 30-year fixed rate jumped to around 6.8% last week, mortgage activity plummeted 10%.