Press Release - Weekly Application Survey

The Refinance Index increased 8.6 percent from the previous week and was the highest Refinance Index observed in the survey since the week ending May 15, 2009. The increase in total refinance applications was driven by a 10.7 percent increase in conventional refinance applications, while government refinance applications decreased by 4.2 percent.

The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3.4 percent from one week earlier, driven by an 8.0 percent increase in government purchase applications. Conventional purchase applications were essentially flat, increasing just 0.3 percent from last week. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 15.3 percent compared with the previous week and was 35.7 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

“As rates on 30- and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages declined to the lowest levels recorded in the survey, refinance activity increased last week.  The refinance index is up almost 30 percent over the past 4 weeks, but is still well below the peak seen last spring,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s Vice President of Research and Economics.  “Refinance borrowers, aiming for the lowest possible rate, are getting conventional loans.  The strength in purchase applications comes from government loans, likely indicating that prospective buyers are drawn by the lower downpayment requirements.”
 
The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is up 4.9 percent.  The four week moving average is down 1.3 percent for the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index, while this average is up 6.5 percent for the Refinance Index.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 79.4 percent of total applications from 78.7 percent the previous week. This was the highest refinance share observed in the survey since April 2009.  The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 5.2 percent from 5.5 percent of total applications from the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.59 percent from 4.69 percent, with points increasing to 1.04 from 0.96 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.  This was the lowest 30-year contract rate ever recorded in the survey. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.05 percent from 4.12 percent, with points decreasing to 0.88 from 1.04 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. This was the lowest 15-year contract rate ever recorded in the survey. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs decreased to 7.17 percent from 7.20 percent, with points increasing to 0.24 from 0.22 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

If you would like to subscribe to MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey, please contact MBA Research at (202) 557-2830 or mbaresearch@mortgagebankers.org or click here.

The survey covers over 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, and has been conducted weekly since 1990.  Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.  Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.

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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the real estate finance industry, an industry that employs more than 280,000 people in virtually every community in the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association works to ensure the continued strength of the nation's residential and commercial real estate markets; to expand homeownership and extend access to affordable housing to all Americans. MBA promotes fair and ethical lending practices and fosters professional excellence among real estate finance employees through a wide range of educational programs and a variety of publications. Its membership of over 2,200 companies includes all elements of real estate finance: mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, thrifts, Wall Street conduits, life insurance companies and others in the mortgage lending field. For additional information, visit MBA's Web site:  www.mortgagebankers.org.