WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 4, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the weeks ending December 23, 2011 and December 30, 2011.
Mortgage applications for the week ending December 30, 2011 decreased 3.7 percent from the week ending December 16, 2011 (two weeks prior), according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. The results include adjustments to account for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
The Refinance Index decreased 1.9 percent compared to the week ending December 16, 2011. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 9.7 percent compared with levels reported two weeks ago.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage loan application volume was 39 percent higher in the last two weeks of 2011 than in the last two weeks of 2010, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The refinance share of mortgage activity for the week ending December 30, 2011 increased to 81.9 percent of total applications. This is the highest refinance share in 2011.
“Mortgage application activity declined over the last two weeks, even after adjusting for the typical seasonal decline in activity. Refinance applications continue to account for the vast majority of total application volume, with the refinance share reaching its highest level in 2011. As part of legislation to extend the payroll tax holiday, guarantee fees for loans purchased by the GSEs and mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans will eventually increase. Given the announced implementation of this change, we do not expect to see an impact on mortgage rates and application activity until at least February,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s Vice President of Research and Economics.
For the week ending 12/30/2011, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) was 4.07 percent, with points at 0.53 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. This was the lowest 30-year fixed rate in 2011.
For the week ending 12/30/2011, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) was 4.41 percent, with points at 0.44 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV ratio loans.
For the week ending 12/30/2011, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA was 3.96 percent, with points at 0.71 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV ratio loans.
For the week ending 12/30/2011, the average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages was 3.37 percent, with points at 0.50 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.
For the week ending 12/30/2011, the average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs was 2.91 percent, with points at 0.48 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV ratio loans.
If you would like to purchase a subscription of MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey, please visit www.mortgagebankers.org/WeeklyApps, email ">
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.
