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Mortgage Rates At Lowest Level In the Year

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were mostly flat last week. In fact, rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances were unchanged from one week earlier while rates for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped. By the end of the week, average rates were as low as they’d been in nearly a year. That didn’t spur demand for mortgage applications, however, which fell 1.6 percent from the week before. Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of industry surveys and forecasting, told CNBC that the declining demand for home purchase loans was mostly seen at the higher end of the market. “Purchase applications jumped up during the first full week of April and had effectively remained at that level, on an unadjusted basis, before falling this week,” Kan said. “The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased to the lowest level since February, led by declines in applications for larger home purchase amounts.” Purchase volume was still almost 12 percent higher than one year earlier, despite the decline in jumbo loans. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Mortgage Rates Hover Near Three-Year Lows

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, mortgage rates fell across all loan categories last week, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Rates were down from the week before and started the week at their lowest point in three years. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, told CNBC that mortgage rates continue to defy expectations. “Despite expectations that rates would slowly rise this year, the 30-year fixed rate last week was 18 basis points lower than a year ago, continuing to provide a favorable rate environment for the housing market,” Fisher said. Favorable rates, however, failed to spur much demand for mortgage loan applications. In fact, mortgage application demand was essentially flat from the week before, with both the refinance and purchase index up less than one percent. On the other hand, when compared to last year, refinance demand is now up 23 percent and applications for loans to buy homes have increased 14 percent. The MBA’s weekly applications survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Purchase Activity Flat As Rates Rise

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were up slightly last week from the week before. In fact, rates rose across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Though the increases were minor, it was enough to cause a 6 percent drop in refinance activity. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, told CNBC there are fewer borrowers looking to refinance with rates at their current level. “Refinance activity decreased for the second-straight week because fewer borrowers have an incentive to refi at the current level of rates, but there are still some who respond to the small changes we have seen in recent weeks,” Fratantoni said. Since demand for loans to buy homes is less affected by weekly rate fluctuations, the Purchase Index was unchanged from the week before and remains 13 percent higher than the same week 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.

Mortgage Rate Drop Stirs Demand

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates dropped sharply last week from the week before. Rates were down across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. MBA economist Joel Kan told CNBC the decline was brought on by recent comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen. “Rates fell last week as a more cautious message from Chair Yellen about the economic outlook and continuing concerns about weaker growth abroad kept demand for U.S. Treasurys high,” Kan said. “The 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped 8 basis points, the largest single week decline in eight weeks.” Falling rates spurred demand for mortgage applications. In fact, overall demand was up 2.7 percent over the week before – driven by a 7 percent surge in refinance activity. And though purchase demand was down 2 percent from one week earlier, it remains 11 percent higher than at the same time last year. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Mortgage Rates Rise As Spring Season Begins

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved up last week from the week before. Rates increased for 30-year fixed-rate loans with conforming balances, mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Interest rates for jumbo loans fell slightly. Despite higher interest rates, however, there is evidence that the spring buying season has begun. In fact, demand for purchase applications was up 2 percent from the week before and is now 21 percent higher than at the same time last year. The improvement was welcome news during a week when overall mortgage application demand was down 1 percent due to dropping refinance activity. But – though higher rates have contributed to fewer homeowners looking to refinance their loans – Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, told CNBC that recent comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicate that the Fed likely won’t raise interest rates again any time in the near future. “As the market incorporates beliefs about a lower rate path in the wake of chairwoman Yellen’s comments, mortgage rates are likely to follow the 10-year Treasury yield downwards this week,” Fisher said. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Average Mortgage Rates Decrease

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell across all loan categories last week, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Despite lower rates, however, demand for loans also fell, dropping 3.3 percent compared to the week before. Most of the drop was due to declining refinance activity – compared with purchase demand, which only fell 1 percent. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, says declining refinance demand is to be expected. “There are fewer borrowers remaining who are able to benefit from low rates,” Fisher told CNBC. “The decline in average refinance loan size is also a feature of a declining refinance market. Borrowers with larger loan balances tend to be more rate sensitive. As refinance applications surge, average loan size tends to go up. As we return to a more normal level of refinance applications, the mix of borrowers returns to normal and average loan size declines.” Demand for loans to buy homes, on the other hand, is 25 percent higher than last year at the same time and expected to spike as the spring season gets underway. The MBA’s weekly survey covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications and has been conducted since 1990. More here.

Average Mortgage Rates Rise But Remain Low

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates increased last week from the week before. In fact, rates were up across all loan categories including 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Though still low by historical standards, mortgage rates have moved upward two consecutive weeks and the increases have led to a slowing of refinance activity. Last week, refinance demand fell 6 percent. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, told CNBC rates have returned to levels last reached at the beginning of the year. “Financial market volatility subsided last week, allowing rates to increase to levels last seen in January,” Fisher said. “Even though mortgage rates have remained below 4 percent, the appetite to refinance has consistently declined over the last month. Relatively low rates should continue to assist the purchase market.” Purchase demand, however, was flat from the week before, rising just 0.3 percent. Still, demand for loans to buy homes is now 33 percent higher than it was at the same time one year ago. The MBA’s weekly applications survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Mortgage Rates Move Up, So Does Buyer Demand

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved up across all loan categories last week. Increases were seen on 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, as well as loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Though rates remain low by historical standards, last week’s increase slowed refinance demand – which dropped 2 percent from the previous week. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, told CNBC that falling refinance activity has affected average loan size due to the fact that even minor interest rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on larger loans. “Mortgage markets continued to retrench last week,” Fisher said. “Declining refinance activity was accompanied by falling average loan sizes for refinance applications, which have decreased for the third consecutive week after reaching their survey peak.” Purchase demand, on the other hand, was up from the week before. The 4 percent jump in prospective buyers requesting loan applications pushed purchase activity 30 percent above where it was at the same time last year. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Home Loan Demand Suggests Strong Spring

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for loans to buy homes is 27 percent higher than it was at the same time last year. This indicates that this spring’s selling season could be even stronger than last year’s. That is encouraging news, especially since recent economic data has suggested activity is slowing. But despite the annual gain, demand for mortgage applications was down 4.8 percent from the week before. The decline was mostly due to a 7 percent drop in the number of borrowers looking to refinance. Refinance activity is usually more volatile than purchase demand – and more sensitive to rate fluctuations. Last week’s dip happened, however, during a week when mortgage rates were down. In fact, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both conforming and jumbo balances fell from the week before. So did average rates on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president for forecasting and industry surveys, says many years of lower-than-normal mortgage rates has reduced the number of homeowners that can benefit from refinancing. “Applications for both conventional and government refinance loans decreased, as the supply of borrowers who could benefit from rates at this level begins to diminish,” Kan told CNBC. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Purchase Application Demand Moves Higher

Demand for loans to buy homes moved higher last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey. The 2 percent increase means purchase application demand is now 27 percent higher than it was at the same time last year. That is significant because mortgage loan demand is typically a good indicator of future home sales – so the improvement could indicate a strong upcoming spring sales season. Overall, mortgage application demand fell 4.3 percent, however, due to a drop in refinance activity. Average mortgage rates were up across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both jumbo and conforming balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The rate increase caused the number of borrowers seeking to refinance to fall 8 percent. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, said the decline was mostly seen on loans with higher balances. “The dollar volume of refinance applications decreased by 26 percent, while refinance applications based on loan count decreased 17 percent, indicating that the volume of larger loans dropped to a greater extent than smaller loans,” Fratantoni told CNBC. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.