Thirty-year mortgage rates rose to an average of 6.13 percent from 6.03 percent in the prior week, while 15-year mortgages inched upward to an average of 5.57 percent from 5.44 percent, it said.
One-year adjustable-rate mortgages also rose, to an average of 4.19 percent from 4.14 percent.
A year ago, 30-year mortgages averaged 7.02 percent, 15-year mortgages 6.53 percent, and the ARM 5.22 percent.
"Mortgage rates have been so low and accommodating that total home sales surged in October as families took advantage of the affordable atmosphere," Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist, said in a statement.
"And with increased loan limits in 2003, Freddie Mac estimates that about 250,000 more families will qualify for the lower rates available in the conventional, conforming market," he said.
On Monday the National Association of Realtors said U.S. October existing home sales rose 6.1 percent to an annual rate of 5.77 million. But the Commerce Department on Tuesday reported a 4.5 percent decline in October new home sales, to an annual rate of 1.007 million from 1.054 million in September.