Tag Archives: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

“The housing market appears to be stuck heading into autumn, with sales activity likely to stay stagnant until housing inventory increases, and mortgage rates decline to more affordable levels,” said MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit. Click through to read more on this week's mortgage rates.

Despite a slight dip in mortgage rates, the MBA reports that mortgage application volume has fallen to lows last reported in December 1996, as rates and housing inventory continue to serve as major barriers to entry into the housing market.

After the fixed-rate mortgage hit levels recorded 21 years ago, Freddie Mac reported a five-basis point week-over-week slip in rates, and despite continued high rates, the nation’s short supply is keeping house prices steady.

Despite fixed-rate mortgages moving upward to levels last recorded in December 2000, the MBA reports both purchase and refi apps rose week-over-week, the first such increase in over a month.

Hitting levels last recorded in 2001, Freddie Mac reports the fixed-rate mortgage at 7.23% this week, forcing more prospective buyers to back to the sidelines and pushing purchase activity to a 28-year-low.

The MBA reports a 4.2% week-over-week slide in overall mortgage application volume, with apps for home purchase mortgages falling to levels last reported in April of 1995, as rates shot up to the 7.30% range.

“Volume picked up during the spring homebuying season and additional personnel were shed. However, the substantial cost savings per loan was not enough to put the average net production income in the black,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s VP of Industry Analysis.

Not since spring of 2002 have fixed-rate mortgages been as high as they were reported this week, and when combined with mortgage app volume sliding for the fourth straight week, affordability headwinds continue to impact housing demand.

Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater points out that "upward pressure on rates is the product of a resilient economy with low unemployment and strong wage growth, which historically has kept purchase demand solid.”

With mortgage rates surpassing the 7% mark, the MBA reports yet another dip in weekly purchase and refi apps as homebuyers struggle in the face of a depleted housing supply and elevated mortgage rates.