Mortgage Loan Rates Falling, Slowing the Drop in Mortgage Applications
ThinkstockThe Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a drop of 1.2% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, following a drop of 2.6% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates fell in…
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a drop of 1.2% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, following a drop of 2.6% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates fell in all categories last week.
The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 2% from the last report. On an unadjusted basis, the composite index fell by 1% week-over-week. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 2% for the week, and is up about 6% year-over-year.
The MBA’s refinance index fell by 1%, after sliding 1% in the previous week.
The share of refinancings remained unchanged at 63%, its lowest level in more than two years. Adjustable rate mortgage loans account for 7% of all applications, flat with the prior week.
The average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped from 4.68% to 4.58%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 4.81% to 4.66%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 3.70% to 3.63%.
The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan fell from 3.39% to 3.30%.
Mortgage rates are pulling back and that should help new home sales, once the housing inventory gets built back up. It is really a matter of perception more than anything. Interest rates for mortgage loans continue to be very low by historical standards.
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Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.
He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.