Mortgage Loan Applications Sinking on Higher Loan Rates

Photo of Paul Ausick
By Paul Ausick Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

House for Sale
Thinkstock
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a drop of 11.5% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index. That followed a decline of 8.8% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates rose again last week.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 2% from the previous report. On an unadjusted basis, the composite index fell by 20% week over week. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 13% for the week, but is still up about 14% year over year.

The MBA’s refinance index fell 15%, week over week, and is now at its lowest level since November 2011.

The share of refinancings fell from the previous week’s total of 71% to 68%. This marks the fourth consecutive weekly decline in refinancings, and is the lowest level in nearly two years. Adjustable rate mortgage loans now account for 6% of all applications, up 1% from last week.

The average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 3.9% to 4.07%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased from 4.07% to 4.20%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 3.10% to 3.23%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan rose from 2.6% to 2.76%.

Interest rates continue their steady rise, and the impact on refinancings is obvious. Mortgage loans for new purchases also are falling, but not nearly as fast as refinancings. The sliding purchase index could cast a shadow over the sunny outlook for home builders. This is worth keeping an eye on.

Photo of Paul Ausick
About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

Featured Reads

Our top personal finance-related articles today. Your wallet will thank you later.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618