According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were mostly down last week, in advance of the Fed’s latest policy announcement. Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming balances were unchanged from the previous week while jumbo loans saw a slight decrease, as did loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Because the Fed’s announcement may mean mortgage rates will be moving higher, refinance activity picked up from the week before. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, told CNBC borrowers were likely looking to move before rates do. “Some borrowers may have moved to lock in current rates in advance of the Fed’s likely increase this week,” Fratantoni said. Overall, demand for mortgage loan applications was down 1.1 percent from the week before, largely due to a 3 percent drop in the number of prospective buyers requesting applications. Still, purchase application demand remains 34 percent higher than at the same time one year ago. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.
