A “For Sale by Owner” sign is posted in front of property in Monterey Park, California.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images
Homebuyers are rushing for mortgages, but fewer homeowners are refinancing even though rates are heading toward record lows.
Total mortgage application volume fell 2% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. Volume was 35% higher one year ago.
The annual gains are getting a big boost from homebuyers. Mortgage applications to purchase a home fell 2% for the week but was 28% higher than a year earlier. Last year, annual gains were in the low single digits for purchase demand.
“Lenders are reporting that the strong demand for homebuying is coming from delayed activity from the spring, as well as households seeking more space in less densely populated areas,” said Joel Kan, an MBA economist.
The demand is also fueled by near record low mortgage rates. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of up to $510,400 decreased to 3.08% from 3.11%, with points, including origination fee, decreasing to 0.36 from 0.38 for loans with a 20% down payment.
The drop in rates did little to spur current borrowers. Applications to refinance a home loan decreased 3% for the week, although they were 40% higher than a year ago. Earlier this year, refinancing had been around 100% higher annually.
“Both conventional and government refinancing activity decreased last week, despite 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed mortgage rates declining to near historical lows,” said Kan. “Mortgage rates have remained below 3.5% for five months now, and it’s possible that refinance demand may be slowing and will not significantly increase again without another notable drop in rates.”
Mortgage rates are falling again this week, now down to a three-week low, according to Mortgage News Daily. Part of that is due to the recent announcement that a new fee imposed on lenders that initially caused rates to go up would be delayed until the end of the year. Another part is simple bond basics.
“The Fed is setting the stage to offer the market lower rates and more bond buying for a longer period of time with less concern about inflation figures derailing their largesse,” said Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily.