Global| Mar 02 2016U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Dip; Rates Remain Lower
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Market Volume Index fell 4.8% last week (+18.1% y/y), about as it did during the prior week. Nevertheless, applications rose nearly one-quarter last month versus [...]
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Market Volume Index fell 4.8% last week (+18.1% y/y), about as it did during the prior week. Nevertheless, applications rose nearly one-quarter last month versus January. Purchase applications eased 0.6% w/w (+26.9% y/y), and fell 2.4% m/m. Refinancing applications declined 7.2% (+12.5% y/y), but surged 43.7% m/m.
The effective interest rate on a 15-year mortgage of 3.2% was little-changed last month, but down from the 3.5% highs of November and December. The effective rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan held w/w at 3.9%, but was down from 4.3% near year-end. The rate on a Jumbo 30-year loan also stayed at 3.84%, down from the 4.1% high. For adjustable 5-year mortgages, the effective interest rate held w/w at 3.14%, but remained below the 3.3% averaged in November and December.
The average mortgage loan size eased to $288,000 (+9.3% y/y). For purchases, it rose to $300,400 (2.7% y/y), but for refinancings it fell to $279,200 (+13.8% y/y).
Applications for fixed interest rate loans increased 17.8% y/y while adjustable-rate loan applications improved 21.2% y/y.
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. The base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100. The figures for weekly mortgage applications and interest rates are available in Haver's SURVEYW database.
| MBA Mortgage Applications (SA, 3/16/90=100) | 02/26/16 | 02/19/16 | 02/12/16 | Y/Y % | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market Index | 496.5 | 521.5 | 544.9 | 18.1 | 417.8 | 355.3 | 607.6 |
| Purchase | 216.7 | 217.9 | 213.3 | 26.9 | 195.0 | 169.8 | 195.8 |
| Refinancing | 2,104.5 | 2,267.4 | 2,456.7 | 12.5 | 1,735.2 | 1,449.8 | 3,070.0 |
| 15-Year Mortgage Effective Interest Rate (%) | 3.21 | 3.22 | 3.18 | 3.31 | 3.37 | 3.54 | 3.42 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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