Mortgage rates continued to head up this week with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaging 4.46 percent, the highest it has been since June 2011, according to Freddie Mac. But Freddie Mac Vice President and Chief Economist Frank Nothaft said homeowner affordability is still strong and should continue to help fuel the economy. Read today’s release from Freddie Mac.

“Higher mortgage rates may dampen some housing market activity but the effect will be muted by the high level of buyer affordability, and home sales should remain strong. For instance, existing home sales in May rose to its strongest pace since November 2009 and new home sales were the most seen since July 2008. In addition, the 12-month growth in the S&P/Case-Shiller® 20-city home price index for April of 12.1 percent was the largest since April 2006,” – Freddie Mac’s Frank Nothaft.