WASHINGTON » Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages stayed close to record lows this week, a trend that has made home buying more affordable and helped the housing market recover.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year loan edged up to 3.32 percent. That’s close to last week’s rate of 3.31 percent, the lowest on records dating to 1971.

The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked up to 2.64 percent from 2.63 percent last week, also a record low.

The average rate on the 30-year loan has been below 4 percent all year. It has fallen further since the Federal Reserve started buying mortgage bonds in September to encourage more borrowing and spending.