Mortgage applications decreased 8.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 24, 2013. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 8.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased nine percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 12 percent, the largest single week drop in refinance applications this year, from the previous week to the lowest level since December 2012. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased three percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased two percent compared with the previous week and was 14 percent higher than the same week one year ago.
"Refinance applications fell for the third straight week bringing the refinance index to its lowest level since December 2012 as mortgage rates increased to their highest level in a year,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics. “Rates rose in response to stronger economic data and an increasing chance that the Fed may soon begin to taper their asset purchases."
The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 71 percent of total applications from 74 percent the previous week to the lowest level since April 2012. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to five percent of total applications.
“Mortgage rates have jumped more in the past week than they have in years. Consumers who are still on the fence about refinancing need to act now,” said Quicken Loans Chief Economist Bob Walters.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) increased to 3.90 percent, the highest rate since May 2012, from 3.78 percent, with points unchanged at 0.39 (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 4.07 percent, the highest rate since August 2012, from 3.93 percent, with points decreasing to 0.27 from 0.36 (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 3.62 percent, the highest rate since August 2012, from 3.53 percent, with points increasing to 0.27 from 0.13 (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 3.10 percent, the highest rate since August 2012, from 2.96 percent, with points decreasing to 0.30 from 0.32 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs remained unchanged at 2.60 percent, with points increasing to 0.24 from 0.23 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate decreased from last week.
