Mortgage Loan Rates Make Small Moves, 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 Make Small Moves, Applications Rise

© Thinkstock

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications Wednesday morning, noting an increase of 3.6% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index for the week ending October 13. During the week, mortgage loan rates rose on two of five loan types that the MBA tracks.

On an unadjusted basis, the composite index decreased by 7% week over week. The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased by 4% compared with the week ended October 6. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 6% for the week and is now 9% higher year over year.

The MBA’s refinance index increased by 3% week over week, and the percentage of all new applications that were seeking refinancing dipped from 49% to 48.6%.

Adjustable rate mortgage loans accounted for 6.1% of all applications, down 0.5 percentage points from the prior week.

[nativounit]

While mortgage rate movements varied last week, the overall trend was essentially “more of the same.” Rates moved to recent lows last Friday but have been creeping back up to a range of 3.875% to 4.00% on a 30-year fixed-rate loan. Upfront costs are responsible for most of the changes in quoted rates.

According to the MBA, last week’s average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped from 4.16% to 4.14%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 4.11% to 4.13%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked up from 3.44% to 3.45%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan decreased from 3.33% to 3.31%. Rates on a 30-year FHA-backed fixed-rate loan remained unchanged 4.00%.

[recirclink id=405074]

[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.

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