Lower Rates Help Mortgage Application Volume to Recover

The volume of mortgage applications posted the first gain since May 5, aided by lower interest rates and the usual post-holiday week bounce. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said its Market Composite Index increased 7.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from a week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 18 percent.   The Refinance Index rose 6.0 percent week-over-week and was 41.0 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The refinance share of applications was unchanged from 27.3 percent of total applications a week earlier. [refiappschart] The Purchase Index was up a seasonally adjusted 8.0 percent and 17.0 percent before adjustment. It was 27.0 percent lower than the same week in 2022. [purchaseappschart] “Mortgage rates declined for the second straight week, with the 30-year fixed rate decreasing to 6.77 percent. Mortgage applications were up over the week, but remained well below levels from a year ago,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Rates that are still more than a percentage point higher than a year ago, and low for-sale inventory continue to constrain homebuying activity in many markets. The average loan size on a purchase loan decreased for the third straight week, as we continue to see more first-time homebuyer activity in the purchase market.  Added Kan, “Refinance applications accounted for less than a third of all applications and remained more than 40 percent behind last year’s pace. Elevated rates have reduced the benefit of a rate/term refinance for many borrowers and continue to discourage cash-out refinances as borrowers are unwilling to give up their lower rates.”
http://dlvr.it/Sqg7x7

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Get Ready for Smaller, More Affordable Homes Have you been trying to buy a home, but higher mortgage rates and home prices are limiting your options? If so, here’s some good news, smaller, more affordable homes are on the way. In some ways, smaller homes are already here. When the pandemic hit, the meaning of home changed. People needed the space their home provided not only as a place to live, but as a place to work, go to school, exercise, and more. Those who had that space were more likely to keep it. And those that didn’t were in a position where they were trying to sell their smaller house to move up to a larger one. That meant the homes coming to the market during the pandemic were smaller than those on the market before the pandemic – and that trend continues today. Larger homes tend to come on the market during the summer months when households with children who are out of school are looking to move. That seasonality means, based on historical trends and the fact that fall is now approaching, we can expect smaller, more affordable homes to come to the market throughout the rest of the year. What Does This Mean for You? The seasonal trend of smaller homes coming to the market in the later months of the year, coupled with builders bringing smaller, more affordable newly built homes to the market right now, is good news – especially if you’re finding it difficult to afford a home. If a smaller, more affordable home sounds appealing to you, good news – they’re coming. To keep up with what’s available in our area, DM me. #realestate #homeownership #homebuying www.DanFreshley.com

Accounting, Digital, Broker Comp Tools; FHA, VA, USDA Developments; Why Rates are Stubborn