Refinance Apps Down Sharply. Purchase Demand Up as Rates Rise
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 26th, 2010.
The MBA's loan application survey covers over 50% of all U.S.
residential mortgage loan applications taken by retail mortgage bankers,
commercial banks, and thrifts. The data gives economists a snapshot
view of consumer demand for mortgage loans. In a low mortgage rate
environment, a trend of increasing refinance applications implies
consumers are seeking out a lower monthly payment. If consumers are able
to increase disposable income through refinancing, it can be a positive
for the economy as a whole (creates more consumer spending or allows
debtors to pay down personal liabilities like credit cards). A falling
trend of purchase applications indicates a decline in home buying
demand, a negative for the housing industry and the economy as a whole.
Excerpts from the Release....
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 16.5 percent on a seasonally
adjusted basis from one week earlier. This week's results include an adjustment to account for the Thanksgiving holiday.
On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 34.2 percent compared with the previous week.
The Refinance Index decreased 21.6 percent from the previous week. This is the third weekly decrease for the Refinance Index
which reached its lowest level since June 2010. The four week moving
average is
down 8.2 percent for the Refinance Index and the refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 74.9 percent of total applications from 78.6 percent the previous week.
This is the third consecutive weekly decrease for refinance share which is at its lowest level since June 2010.
The seasonally adjusted
Purchase Index increased 1.1 percent from one week
earlier and is at its highest level since the beginning of May
2010. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 22.9 percent
compared with the previous week and was 2.7 percent higher than
the same week one year ago. The four week moving average is
up 3.8 percent.
The average contract
interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.56 percent
from 4.50 percent, with points
increasing to 0.96 from 0.87 (including the origination fee)
for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The average contract
interest rate increased for the fourth time in five weeks and
is at the highest level reported since August 2010. The effective
rate also increased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate
mortgages increased to 3.91 percent from 3.83 percent, with points
decreasing to 0.88 from 1.04 (including the origination fee)
for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate also increased from
last week.
One has to wonder if rising rates are motivating potential homebuyers off their fences....