Mortgage application volume took a dip last week

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 25, 2013, mortgage application volume fell 8.1 percent from the week prior, including adjustments to account for the federal holiday.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 8.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 17 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 10 percent from the previous week.

The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased two percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased six percent compared with the previous week, but was two percent higher than the same week one year ago.

The refinance share of the mortgage application volume fell to 79 percent of total applications from 82 percent the previous week, continuing to hover around 80 percent where it has been for years. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 4 percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased to 26 percent from 25 percent the prior week.

The MBA reports, “The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances rose to 3.67 percent, the highest level since September 2012, from 3.62 percent, with points decreasing to 0.42 from 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The contract interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgages has increased for six of the last seven weeks. The effective rate increased from last week.”

Current average contract interest rates

According to the MBA:

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) increased to 3.95 percent from 3.85 percent, with points increasing to 0.39 from 0.34 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 3.48 percent from 3.40 percent, with points decreasing to 0.33 from 0.53 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 2.95 percent from 2.87 percent, with points decreasing to 0.38 from 0.39 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 2.60 percent from 2.61 percent, with points increasing to 0.33 from 0.32 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

Mortgage rates hit new low, application volume rises

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 7, 2012, mortgage application volume increased 6.2 percent from the previous week, with an 8.0 percent increase in refinance applications and a 1.0 percent increase in new mortgage applications.

“Continued uncertainty due to the lack of resolution regarding the fiscal cliff led interest rates lower last week, with mortgage rates reaching a new low in our survey,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s Vice President of Research and Economics.

“Refinance activity increased,” Fratantoni said in a statement, “with the refinance index hitting its highest level in two months, and the refinance share reaching its highest level since January 2009. Applications for purchase increased for a fifth consecutive week, and are running almost ten percent above their level at this time last year.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 84 percent of total applications from 82.0 percent the previous week, while the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity remained at 3.0 percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased to 29.0 percent from 27.0 percent the prior week.

Current mortgage rates

According to the MBA:

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased to 3.47 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 3.52 percent, with points decreasing to 0.36 from 0.41 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) decreased to 3.77 percent from 3.79 percent, with points increasing to 0.35 from 0.32 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 3.32 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 3.34 percent, with points decreasing to 0.51 from 0.62 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 2.85 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 2.86 percent, with points decreasing to 0.26 from 0.27 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 2.63 percent from 2.62 percent, with points decreasing to 0.34 from 0.40 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

Mortgage application volume on the rise

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 30, 2012, which included an adjustment for the Thanksgiving holiday, mortgage applications rose 4.5 percent from the week prior. Not accounting for the holiday, volume actually rose 49.0 percent from the previous week.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Refinance Index increased 6.0 percent from the previous week, and the Purchase Index increased 0.1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 36.0 percent compared with the previous week and was actually 0.1 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 83.0 percent of total applications from 81.0 percent the previous week, higher than it has been for most of 2012. The HARP share of refinance applications increased to 27.0 percent from 26.0 percent the prior week and the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 3.0 percent of total applications.

Average contract rates

According to the MBA:

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased to 3.52 percent, matching the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 3.53 percent, with points increasing to 0.41 from 0.40 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) increased to 3.79 percent from 3.75 percent, with points increasing to 0.32 from 0.31 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 3.34 percent, matching the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 3.36 percent, with points decreasing to 0.62 from 0.65 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 2.86 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 2.89 percent, with points decreasing to 0.27 from 0.35 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 2.62 percent from 2.60 percent, with points increasing to 0.40 from 0.37 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.