Tag Archives: Mortgage Rates

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has targeted an Atlanta-based online lender to pay up for its role in an alleged bait and switch scheme. AmeriSave, its affiliate, Novo Appraisal Management Companies, and the CEO/owner of both companies, Patrick Markert, were penalized for misleading consumers by advertising fraudulent low rates and then failing to honor those rates once the consumers were locked in.

Nearly three months after first settling into the 4.10 percent to 4.20 percent range, long-term fixed mortgage rates continue to show little movement. According to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate this week came to an average 4.14 percent (0.7 point), up slightly from 4.12 percent in the last survey.

According to data reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and compiled by Capital Economics, mortgage application volumes slipped an additional 3.4 percent in July following June's 0.1 percent decline. Declines were nearly even in both purchase loan volumes, which fell 3.6 percent, and refinances, which were down 3.3 percent.

After fizzling out over the past several quarters, the post-recession refinance boom officially ended in the quarter, according to data from Freddie Mac. The mortgage behemoth released on Tuesday the results of its quarterly refinance analysis for Q2, showing that refinancing fell in the last three months to below 50 percent of total mortgage activity as rising interest rates have stifled demand.

After experiencing a post-holiday decline, applications for home mortgages picked up again last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported. MBA's Market Composite Index, a weekly measure of mortgage loan application volumes, bumped up 2.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending July 18, the group said.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment measured 81.3 in its first July reading, falling more than a point from its final June reading of 82.5. Analysts surveyed before Friday's release had predicted the index would climb up slightly to 83.

Freddie Mac released Thursday the results of its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, showing the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) coming in at an interest rate of 4.13 percent (0.6 point) for the week ending July 17. Bankrate.com's survey was similarly flat, with both the 30- and 15-year fixed averages falling 1 basis point each.

Signs of a healing—though still depressed—jobs market provided some slight lift to mortgage rates this week, market data shows. In its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Freddie Mac recorded the average 30-year fixed rate at 4.15 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending June 10, up from 4.12 percent in last week's survey. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.51 percent following a spike in late June.

Looking ahead to the next 12 months, 46 percent of Americans polled expect home prices to rise, Fannie Mae reported in its latest National Housing Survey. That share is down from 48 percent in May and 50 percent in April. On average, respondents anticipate a home price change of 2.4 percent, down half a percentage point from the previous two surveys and the lowest forecast since January, when news of a slowdown in price gains affected attitudes.

According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) product was 4.12 percent (0.5 point) for the week ending July 3. Rates remained down year-over-year for the second straight week, "which should provide some help with homebuyer affordability in many markets," said Frank Nothaft, chief economist for Freddie Mac.