The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 7.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 8 percent compared with the previous week.  The Refinance Index increased 8 percent from the previous week.  The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3 percent from one week earlier and was at its highest level since May of 2010, immediately following the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit. This increase in purchase applications was primarily for conventional loans, as the seasonally adjusted Conventional Purchase Index was at its highest level since October of 2009.  The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 9 percent compared with the previous week and was 26 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

The refinance share of mortgage activity was unchanged from the previous week at 82 percent of total applications. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 4 percent of total applications.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) increased to 3.62 percent from 3.61 percent, with points increasing to 0.43 from  0.38 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.  The contract interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgages has increased for five of the last six weeks.  The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) decreased to 3.85 percent from 3.88 percent, with points decreasing to 0.34 from 0.38 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 3.40 percent from 3.39 percent, with points decreasing to 0.53 from 0.58 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 2.87 percent from 2.88 percent, with points increasing to 0.39 from 0.27 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 2.61 percent from 2.66 percent, with points decreasing to 0.32 from 0.34 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate decreased from last week.

If you would like to purchase a subscription of MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey, please visit www.mortgagebankers.org/WeeklyApps, contact mbaresearch@mortgagebankers.org or click here.

The survey covers over 75 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.