| Title: | Mortgage Rates Drop to New Survey Lows |
| Source: | MBA |
| Date: | 5/30/2012 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 30, 2012) — Mortgage applications decreased 1.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending
May 25, 2012. This week’s results do not include an adjustment for early closings on Friday before the Memorial Day holiday.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted
basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 1.6 percent compared with the previous week. The
Refinance Index decreased 1.5 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.6 percent
from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 1.8 percent compared with the previous week and was 3.9 percent
lower than the same week one year ago.
The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is up 3.23 percent. The four week moving average is
down 0.67 percent for the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index, while this average is up 4.36 percent for the Refinance Index.
The refinance share of mortgage activity remained unchanged at 76.6 percent of total applications from the previous week.
The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 4.9 percent from 5.0 percent of total applications from
the previous week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased
to 3.91 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from 3.93 percent, with points increasing to 0.46 from 0.39
(including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. 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 4.23 percent from 4.25 percent, with points decreasing to 0.40 from 0.42 (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 3.70 percent, the lowest
rate in the history of the survey, from 3.73 percent, with points increasing to 0.59 from 0.57 (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 3.23 percent, the lowest rate in the history
of the survey, from 3.26 percent, with points decreasing to 0.39 from 0.42 (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 2.77 percent, the lowest rate in the history of the survey, from
2.83 percent, with points decreasing to 0.38 from 0.42 (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.