NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Long-term mortgage rates fell again this week to the lowest level in six months, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

The rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.69 percent in the week ended Thursday, with an average 0.7 of a point payable up front, down from last week when it averaged 5.74 percent.

A year earlier, the rate on the 30-year fixed-rate loan stood at 6.05 percent.

The 15-year mortgage rate eased to 5.07 percent this week from 5.14 percent last week, also with 0.6 of a point up front. Last year, the average rate stood at 5.36 percent.

Rates haven't been this low since April 1, when the when the 30-year fixed-rate stood at 5.52 percent and the 15-year was at 4.84 percent.

"Treasury bond yields eased somewhat this week, causing long-term mortgage rates to drift a little lower from last week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist. "Lower mortgage rates, in turn, caused mortgage application activity to increase last week in both the refinance and home-purchase sectors.

"Meanwhile, housing starts took a breather in September, following the robust pace set in August."

One-year adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.02 percent, up slightly from 4.01 percent the week prior, with 0.7 of a point payable up front.

At this time last year, the average rate for ARMs was 3.79 percent.

Freddie Mac's (up $0.12 to $65.12, Research) average mortgage rates are based on a survey of 125 lenders nationwide.