Rates in Freddie Mac's closely watched survey have started the year at levels that are below the market's recent rate spike and those seen in the previous week. But they are still above the record lows seen in the past year.In the most recent week, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.77% with an average 0.8 point, down from 4.68% a week ago and 5.09% a year ago.The average 15-year FRM rate during the week ending Jan. 6 was 4.13% with 0.8 of a point, down from 4.20% a week ago and 4.50% a year ago.The average rate for a five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage during the most recent week was 3.75% with 0.7 point, down from 3.77% the previous week and 4.44% a year ago.The average one-year Treasury ARM rate during the week ending Jan. 6 was 3.24% with an average 0.6 point, down from 3.26% a week ago and 4.31% a year ago.On a day-to-day basis, long-term rate-indicative Treasury yields are still fluctuating but have settled down in recent weeks and been largely range-bound after a volatile period in the first part of last month, Calvin Schnure, director of economic analysis at Freddie Mac, noted in an interview.For example, relatively strong ADP payroll numbers Wednesday caused the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield to spike at one point as high as about 3.5% from levels closer to 3.3% the day before. But in recent weeks those have been roughly the limits of that yield's range. As of Thursday morning at press time the yield was dropping again and the market was awaiting more potentially influential employment numbers due Friday.Schnure said over the long-term the market has so far remained a relatively attractive for one for rates, given relatively low inflation and continuing federal support for the market, although he noted that the latter has been adjusted to a "gentle arm around the market" from what had been a "bear hug."