Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Washington, D.C.—Mortgage applications increased 4.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 5, 2013.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 4.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 5 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 6 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent compared with the previous week and was 3 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 75 percent of total applications from 74 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 5 percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased from 28 percent last week to 30 percent this week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased to 3.68 percent, the lowest rate since January 2013, from 3.76 percent, with points remaining unchanged at 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) decreased to 3.79percent, the lowest rate since January 2013,  from 3.85percent, with points decreasing to 0.36 from 0.37 (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 decreased to 3.43 percent, the lowest rate since January 2013, from 3.48 percent, with points increasing to 0.52 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 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 2.92 percent, the lowest rate since January 2013, from 2.99 percent, with points decreasing to 0.34 from 0.36 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 2.58percent from 2.60 percent, with pointsincreasing to 0.37 from 0.32 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.