Mortgage applications decreased 9.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 17, 2013. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 9.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 10 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 12 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased three percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased four percent compared with the previous week and was 10 percent higher than the same week one year ago.
“Mortgage rates increased to their highest level since March last week, leading to the largest single week drop in refinance applications this year,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics. “The refinance index has fallen almost 19 percent over the past two weeks and is back to its lowest level since late March. Purchase activity declined over the week but is still running about 10 percent above last year’s pace at this time.”
The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 74 percent of total applications from 76 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to five percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased from 30 percent last week to 32 percent this week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) increased to 3.78 percent from 3.67 percent, with points decreasing to 0.39 from 0.41 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) increased to 3.93 percent from 3.87 percent, with points increasing to 0.36 from 0.25 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 3.53 percent from 3.43 percent, with points decreasing to 0.13 from 0.16 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 2.96 percent from 2.88 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 5/1 ARMs increased to 2.60 percent from 2.55 percent, with points remained unchanged at 0.23 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate increased from last week.
