The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) slid to 4.27 percent in the week ending Thursday from 4.34 percent in the previous week, the lowest level since early February, showed the Primary Mortgage Market Survey by the U.S. mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

　　The 15-year FRM, a popular guide for those looking to refinance, edged down to 3.33 percent this week from 3.38 percent in the prior week, the survey revealed.

　　The five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) dropped to 3.03 percent from 3.09 percent last week, and the one-year Treasury-indexed ARM added to 2.44 percent from 2.41 percent in the prior week.

　　The survey said the easing of fixed mortgage rates will enhance home buyers affordability as the spring home buying season starts.

　　"Mortgage rates continue to ease this week as housing starts rose 2.8 percent in March but not as much as expected," said Freddie Mac's chief economist Frank Nothaft in a statement.