Mortgage Loan Rates Falling, Slowing the Drop in Mortgage Applications

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 1.2% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, following a drop of 2.6% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates fell in all categories last week.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 2% from the last report. On an unadjusted basis, the composite index fell by 1% week-over-week. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 2% for the week, and is up about 6% year-over-year.

The MBA’s refinance index fell by 1%, after sliding 1% in the previous week.

The share of refinancings remained unchanged at 63%, its lowest level in more than two years. Adjustable rate mortgage loans account for 7% of all applications, flat with the prior week.

The average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped from 4.68% to 4.58%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 4.81% to 4.66%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 3.70% to 3.63%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan fell from 3.39% to 3.30%.

Mortgage rates are pulling back and that should help new home sales, once the housing inventory gets built back up. It is really a matter of perception more than anything. Interest rates for mortgage loans continue to be very low by historical standards.

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.

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