Mortgage Applications Fall For Third Week

Mortgage purchase demand fell for a third week as rates hit their highest point since November.  The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – dropped by 5.7%, a slight improvement on last week’s 13.3% dip. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans rose from 6.62% to 6.71%. Rates have jumped by 50 basis points just in the last month, driving applications down. Adjusted purchase applications decreased by 6%, while the unadjusted index was down 3% from the week before and was 44% lower YOY. “Data on inflation, employment, and economic activity have signaled that inflation may not be cooling as quickly as anticipated, which continues to…

Loans Apps Drop, Breaking Upward Trend

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – fell by 9%. Adjusted purchase applications fell by 10%, but the unadjusted index was up 7% from the week before. Purchase applications are down by more than 40% YOY. Refinances dipped as well, down 7% from the week prior.  They remain 80% lower than the same time last year, comprising only 31.2% of total applications. In the past decade, refis averaged 58% of total activity. “Mortgage rates declined for the fourth straight week and have now fallen almost 40 basis points over the past month. Treasury yields were higher on average last week, while mortgage rates decreased, which was…

Loan Apps Rise Again, Buoyed By Refis

Mortgage loan application volume increased again last week, continuing a trend of rising demand as mortgage rates slip. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey showed the adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, rose by 7%. The results included an adjustment for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Refinances drove the increase, up 15% from the week prior as mortgage rates fell to 6.2%, their lowest level since September. They remain 77% lower than the same time last year, however, comprising only 31.9% of total applications. In the past decade, refis averaged 58% of total activity. Purchase demand saw a boost as well, though not as drastic. Applications increased at a seasonally adjusted rate of 3%, but…

Refis See Boost As Rates Slip Again

Mortgage loan application volume rose in the first week of 2023, boosted by a flurry of refinancing, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased by 1.2%. Refinances saw the most improvement, up 5% from the week prior, as homeowners took advantage of the market’s reaction to indicators of a slowing economy. Data released last week showed the U.S. economy created fewer jobs in December, and hourly wages grew at the slowest annual pace in 16 months. Wage growth has fallen by a full percentage point since Q2 2022. As a result, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances fell from…

Refis See A Boost As Rates Hit Three-Month Low

Mortgage loan application volume rose again, with refinances up 6% as interest rates hit a three-month low, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey. Refinances remain 85% lower than the same time last year, however, comprising 31.3% of total applications. Purchases took a hit with the adjusted purchase and unadjusted purchase indices down by 0.1% and 3%, respectively. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances fell from 6.42% to 6.34%, its lowest point since September. Despite that, the adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased by just 0.9%. “This is a particularly slow time of year for homebuying, so it is not surprising that purchase applications did not…

Loan Volume Stayed Steady Last Week, But Bad Times Lay Ahead

Mortgage loan application volume dipped just slightly last week, continuing a weeks-long trend of relative calm, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 0.1%. Mortgage rates jumped back up to 7.14% after cooling slightly. The adjusted purchase index rose 1%, while the unadjusted purchase index decreased by 1% and was 41% lower YOY.  “Mortgage rates edged higher last week following news that the Federal Reserve will continue raising short-term rates to combat high inflation. The 30-year fixed rate remained above 7% for the third consecutive week, and there were increases for most other loan types,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. …

Rates Top 7%, Applications Fall To Slowest Pace Since 1997

Mortgage loan application volume surprised no one with another week of declines, accompanied by the 10th consecutive week of rising interest rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey. Interest rates finally topped the dreaded 7% mark, reaching 7.16%. This is their highest point since 2001. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 1.7%. Application activity is at its slowest pace since 1997. The adjusted purchase index fell 2%, while the unadjusted purchase index decreased by 3% and was 42% lower YOY. Purchase applications are now at their slowest pace since 2015, 40% slower than a year ago. “Despite higher rates and lower overall application activity, there was a slight increase in…

New Home Apps Dropped In September, Putting Pressure On Worried Builders

New home mortgage applications dropped sharply in September as buyers backed away from decades-high interest rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey for September 2022 found that applications for new home purchases fell 13.2% YOY and 7% from August. Based on that data, MBA predicts that new single-family home sales ran at a seasonally adjusted rate of 637,000 in September. “New home purchase activity declined in September as prospective homebuyers pulled back in response to higher mortgage rates, increased concern about an impending recession, and a broader slowdown in home-price growth,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased almost a full percentage point in the last month, greatly reducing…

MBA Announces Round Of Promotions

Leaders at the Mortgage Bankers Association have announced a series of high-level promotions. Justin Wiseman has been promoted to Vice President, Managing Regulatory Counsel. Heather Messam has been promoted to Vice President and Controller. Finally, Joel Kan has been promoted to Vice President, Deputy Chief Economist.  Wiseman first joined MBA in 2012 and has held positions including Associate Regulatory Counsel and Director of Loan Administration Policy. He was promoted to Associate VP, Managing Regulatory Counsel in 2017. “Justin has been a tremendous asset to MBA and an invaluable resource to our members, providing strategic direction and strong legal intellect on a plethora of regulatory compliance and policy issues during his decade-plus tenure,” said Pete Mills, MBA’s Senior Vice President of…

Credit Availability Falls To Lowest Point Since 2013

Mortgage credit availability dropped to its lowest level since March 2013 in September, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). The MCAI fell by 5.4% to a reading of 102.5 last month. This is the seventh straight month of tightening lending standards. The Conventional MCAI fell 4.9%. Its component indices also declined, with the Jumbo down 5.8% and the Conforming down 3.6%. The Government MCAI also dropped by 5.8%. This index has fallen in seven of the last eight months, and is now its lowest point since April 2013. Most of these indices have fallen to their lowest levels in more than a year. “With the likelihood of a weakening economy, which would lead to…