Mortgage applications decreased 2.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending Aug. 23, 2013. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased three percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased five percent from the previous week. The Refinance Index has fallen 64.2 percent from its recent peak the week of May 3, 2013. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased two percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 0.3 percent compared with the previous week and was six percent higher than the same week one year ago.
The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 60 percent of total applications from 61 percent the previous week, which is the lowest share observed since April 2011. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to seven percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased to 35 percent from 34 percent the week prior.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) increased to 4.80 percent, the highest rate since April 2011, from 4.68 percent,with points decreasing to 0.41 from 0.42 (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 $417,000) increased to 4.78 percent from 4.74 percent,with points increasing to 0.34 from 0.28 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 4.52 percent, the highest rate since July 2011, from 4.40 percent,with points increasing to 0.32 from 0.21 (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 3.84 percent, the highest rate since April 2011, from 3.71 percent, with points increasing to 0.35 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 ARMsincreased to 3.50 percent, the highest rate since April 2011, from 3.44 percent,with points decreasing to 0.37 from 0.48 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTVs. The effective rate increased from last week.
