Despite Economic Uncertainty, U.S. Mortgage Applications Uptick This Week

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According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 28, mortgage applications increased 0.2 percent from one week earlier.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index remained unchanged from the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 0.2percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 1.8 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 0.8 percent compared with the previous week and was 2.1 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is down 2.50 percent. The four week moving average is down 0.06percent for the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index, while this average is down 3.19 percent for the Refinance Index.

The refinance share of conventional activity decreased to 83.8 from 84.1 the previous week. The refinance share of government activity increased from 48.6 to 49.4 this week. The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 77.1 percent of total applications from 77.3percent the previous week, the fourth straight week of decline. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 5.8percent from 5.9 percent of total applications from the previous week.

By region, the number of applications in the Pacific region increased the most, rising by 7.5 percent in September while the number of purchase applications in the Mid-Atlantic region decreased the most, falling by 1.9 percent. The number of refinance applications increased the most in the East North Central region, rising by 8.6 percent while the Pacific region increased the least, rising by 0.5 percent. Vermont had the largest increase in refinance applications in September but also the largest decrease in purchase applications. Conversely, Wyoming had the largest increase in purchase applications but the largest decrease in refinance applications.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased to 4.31 percent from 4.33 percent, with points increasing to 0.49 from  0.47 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) increased to 4.69 percent from 4.68 percent, with points increasing to 0.45 from 0.42 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA  decreased to 4.09 percent from 4.11percent, with points decreasing to 0.51 from 0.61 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 3.63 percent from 3.62 percent, with points remaining unchanged from 0.45 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate also increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 3.09 percent from 3.11 percent, with points remaining unchanged from0.50 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

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