Mortgage Loan Rates Remain Low as Applications Rise

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.
Mortgage Loan Rates Remain Low as Applications Rise

© Thinkstock

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its report on mortgage applications Wednesday morning, noting a week-over-week increase of 9.3% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index for the week ending June 3. Mortgage loan rates mostly moved lower last week.

On an unadjusted basis, the composite index decreased by 1.3% week over week. The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased by 12% compared with the week ended May 27. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 12% for the week and is now 6% higher year over year.

The MBA’s refinance index increased by 7% week over week, and the percentage of all new applications that were seeking refinancing fell from 54.3% to 53.8%.

[nativounit]

Adjustable rate mortgage loans accounted for 5% of all applications, unchanged from the previous week.

Mortgage loan rates remain near three-year lows, and movements in the rates have been mostly sideways, according to Mortgage News Daily:

While there are a few aggressive lenders quoting 3.5% on conventional 30yr fixed loans, 3.625% is the most prevalent quote on top tier scenarios. 3.75% had been more common until last week’s jobs report sent rates quickly lower, and all but eliminated the possibility of a Fed rate hike in June. The Fed Funds Rate does not directly dictate mortgage rates, but increasing expectations for Fed rate hikes tend to coincide with increasing mortgage rates.

According to the MBA, last week’s average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 3.85% to 3.83%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged at 3.81%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 3.12% to 3.11%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan slipped from 3.00% to 2.96%. Rates on a 30-year FHA-backed fixed-rate loan increased from 3.65% to 3.71%.

[wallst_email_signup]

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