Last week, the average interest rate for a 30-year home mortgage was 5.1%, the highest it’s been since December 2009, according to data compiled by FreddieMac. The higher interest is pushing some buyers out of the market. They are also prompting buyers and their lenders to find ways to keep monthly mortgage payments at manageable levels. The Wall Street Journal’s Orla McCaffrey writes that borrowers are paying fees to cut their interest rates and making higher down payments. In April, borrowers paid an average of $3,134 in discount points and loan-origination costs, an amount that was 31% higher than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Buyers are also turning to adjustable rate mortgages that offer low introductory rates that reset in five to 10 years. At their peak in 2005, adjustable-rate loans accounted for close to 50% of all mortgages issued, according to the Urban Institute. In January, they were just 1.7% of new mortgages.