Capitol Hill News Pushes Rates Up

Mortgage rates increased again last week due to a heap of political and financial news. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57%, up from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.10%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 5.75% to 5.97%. A year ago, it averaged 4.31%. Daily average rates even exceeded 7% on May 25, hitting their highest level since November. “The U.S. economy is showing continued resilience which, combined with debt ceiling concerns, led to higher mortgage rates this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  At the current rate, 6.57%, Redfin reported that the typical buyer’s monthly mortgage payment amounts to $2,614, a…

May Slump: Mortgage Applications Down Again

Mortgage applications fell again last week as borrowers recoil in the face of rising rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – decreased by 4.6%, adding to last week’s drag. Adjusted purchase applications fell by 4%, while the unadjusted index was down 5% from the week before and 30% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans rose from 6.57% to 6.69%, the highest level since March. “Since rates have been so volatile and for-sale inventory still scarce, we have yet to see sustained growth in purchase applications. Refinance activity remains limited, with the refinance index falling to its lowest level in two months…

Rates Reverse Course

After falling slightly the week before, mortgage rates shot right back up last week, continuing to fluctuate within the 6% range. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39%, up from 6.35% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.25%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged at 5.75%. A year ago, it averaged 4.43%. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39% this week, as economic crosscurrents have kept rates within a ten-basis point range over the last several weeks,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “After the substantial slowdown in growth last fall, home prices stabilized during the winter and began to modestly rise over the last few months.…

Purchase Apps Fall To Slowest Pace In A Month

Mortgage applications fell last week, wiping out the prior week’s gains, as purchase applications dropped to their slowest pace in a month. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – decreased by 6.3%, changing course after last week’s 6.3% increase. Adjusted purchase applications fell by 4.8%, while the unadjusted index was down 5% from the week before and 26% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans rose from 6.48% to 6.57%, its highest level in two months. Refinances fell 8% from the week prior after a 10% increase last week. They remain 43% lower than the same time last year, comprising only 27.4% of…

Rates Down Slightly, Fluctuating Within 6% Range

Mortgage rates dipped again last week, continuing to fluctuate within the 6% range. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.35%, down from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.30%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased as well, to 5.75% from 5.76%. A year ago, it averaged 4.48%. “This week’s decrease continues a recent sideways trend in mortgage rates, which is a welcome departure from the record increases of last year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. Khater noted that moderating inflation has weakened mortgage rate growth. Both the consumer price and producer price indices, released this week, showed better-than-expected results. The CPI’s shelter cost component rose…

Mortgage Applications Rose After May’s FOMC Meeting

Mortgage applications rose last week across the board as rates dipped in the wake of positive news from the Fed. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – increased by 6.3%, changing course after last week’s 1.2% decrease. Adjusted purchase applications rose by 5%, while the unadjusted index was up 5.3% from the week before and 32% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans dipped from 6.50% to 6.48%. Refinances also showed movement, up 10% from the week prior. They remain 44% lower than the same time last year, however, comprising only 28% of total applications. In the past decade, refis averaged 58% of…

Prices Climb In Q1 As Demand For Budget-Friendly Homes Heats Up

Home sale prices went up last quarter due to high competition in budget-friendly markets. The National Association of Realtors’ latest quarterly report found that single-family existing-home sales prices increased in 152 of 221 metros — about 70% — in Q1 2023.  The monthly mortgage payment on a typical existing single-family home with a 20% down payment was $1,859, up 33% YOY. The divide in demand between affordable and expensive markets is the main factor in these numbers. High-end markets with the most expensive homes are seeing declines, while cheaper areas are seeing intense competition for the few affordable homes for sale, pushing prices up. “Generally speaking, home prices are lower in expensive markets and higher in affordable markets, implying greater…

Rates Fall After FOMC Meeting

Mortgage rates fell last week on the heels of the FOMC’s May meeting. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39%, down from 6.43% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.27%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage increased as well, to 5.76% from 5.71%. A year ago, it averaged 4.52%. “This week, mortgage rates inched down slightly amid recent volatility in the banking sector and commentary from the Federal Reserve on its policy outlook,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “Spring is typically the busiest season for the residential housing market and, despite rates hovering in the mid-six percent range, this year is no different. Interested homebuyers are acclimating…

30-YR FRM Rose Last Week, 15-YR Declined

The 30-year FRM increased once again last week, blocking even more homebuyers from entering the market. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.43%, up from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.11%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell, however, down to 5.71% from 5.76%. A year ago, it averaged 4.40%. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased modestly for the second straight week, but with the rate of inflation decelerating rates should gently decline over the course of 2023,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “Incoming data suggest the housing market has stabilized from a sales and house price perspective. The prospect of lower mortgage rates for the…

Applications Rise Despite Rate Increase

Mortgage applications rose last week despite rates jumping to their highest point in more than a month. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – increased by 3.7%, changing course after last week’s 8.8% decrease. Adjusted purchase applications rose by 5%, while the unadjusted index was up 6% from the week before and 28% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans jumped from 6.43% to 6.55%, a second week of increases and the highest level in more than a month. “Both conventional and government home purchase applications increased last week. However, activity was still nearly 28% below last year’s pace, as high mortgage rates…