The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage started the decade at about 7.5% in 1971 (the earliest year for which data is available), according to Freddie Mac. By 1979, the rate had risen to an average of ...

Reina Marszalek is a senior mortgage editor at Fox Money who has spent more than 10 years writing and editing content. Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible ...