Benchmark mortgage rate hits highest mark in more than a year

• The 30-year mortgage rate reached its highest mark in more than a year Thursday, portending lower purchasing power for prospective homebuyers.
• The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.71 percent this week, up from 6.66 percent a week ago, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.
• That is the highest point for the 30-year rate since the week...