The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage eased to where it was three weeks ago, modest relief for prospective homebuyers challenged by rising home prices and stubbornly high borrowing costs. The long-term rate slipped to 6.

As was widely expected, Fed policymakers on Wednesday left the central bank's overnight rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.72% — little changed from a week prior, according to Freddie Mac data.