Tag: Federal Housing Administration

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved up last week 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. The increases, though slight, were enough to cause a dip in mortgage activity. Refinance demand – which is typically more sensitive to rate increases – fell 3 percent from the previous week, while purchase activity was down 0.3 percent from the week before. But though demand was slower on a week-over-week basis, it is still up significantly from last year when mortgage rates were higher. For example, refinance demand is now 45 percent higher than at this time last year and requests for applications for loans to buy homes are nearly 8 percent above last year’s level. Unfortunately, though rates remain low and buyer demand is strong, a lower-than-typical number of homes on the market could be suppressing sales which, despite this, are on track to have their best year in a decade. The MBA’s weekly applications survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage activity. More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for mortgage applications rose last week, though home buying activity was relatively flat from the week before. The Purchase Index – which tracks application demand for loans to buy homes and is considered a good indicator of future sales – was down 1 percent, though it remains 17 percent above last year’s level. The year-over-year improvement suggests buyer interest has been strong so far this spring due, in part, to the fact that mortgage rates remain historically low. Combined with solid job creation, low interest rates are expected to help keep demand high this year by counteracting home price increases and low for-sale inventory. Last week, rates continued to hold firm. In fact, average rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both jumbo and conforming balances were virtually unchanged from the week before. On the the other hand, mortgage rates for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and 15-year loans both decreased. Spurred on by low rates, refinance activity jumped 3 percent, which helped boost overall demand by 1.3 percent. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, home purchase application demand is now 29% higher than at the same time last year. And, because purchase application demand is considered a good indicator of future home sales, it could be a sign that there will be a sales bump coming in the months ahead. The encouraging news came during a week when demand for loans to buy homes was relatively flat from the week before and mortgage rates rose. In fact, average mortgage 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. Despite the slight increase, however, refinance demand was up from a week earlier and drove total mortgage application demand 1.2 percent higher than the week before. Analysts expect that the increase in refinance demand was due to expectations that the Fed may raise interest rates this month for the first time in nine years. The possibility of a rate increase has helped spur demand in recent weeks. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.