Mortgage applications drop 1.6% as borrower intent shrinks

Mortgage applications decreased 1.6% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending April 24.

On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 1% compared with the previous week.

The refinance index decreased 4% from the previous week and was 51% higher than the same week one year ago.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased 1% from one week earlier. The unadjusted purchase index increased 2% compared with the previous week and was 21% higher than the same week one year ago.

“Mortgage rates increased slightly last week, with the 30-year fixed rate rising to 6.37%. The increase in rates led to a 4% decline in refinance application volume. However, purchase activity for conventional loans picked up almost 2% for the week,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s senior vice president and chief economist.

“More notably, purchase applications were more than 20% above last year’s pace. After a brief pause, in part because of the elevated geopolitical uncertainties, potential homebuyers certainly appear to be moving forward this spring and taking advantage of the more favorable inventory conditions in most parts of the country.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 42.5% of total applications, down from 44.2% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 8.3% of total applications.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) share of total applications decreased to 17.2%, down from 18.2% the week prior. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) share remained unchanged at 15% from the week prior. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) share also remained unchanged at 0.5% from the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $832,750 or less increased 2 basis points to 6.37%, while rates for 30-year fixed mortgages with jumbo loan balances greater than $832,750 increased 2 bps to 6.45%.

The average rate for 30-year fixed mortgages backed by the FHA decreased 1 bps to 6.09% and the average rate for 15-year fixed mortgages increased 2 bps to 5.77%. Rates for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages increased 18 bps to 5.66%.

Xactus Mortgage Intent Index

Xactus‘s Mortgage Intent Index — which analyzes aggregated, anonymized credit-pull activity across the Xactus Intelligent Verification Platform — decreased to a reading of 146.0, a drop of 3.9 change week over week but a 4.31% jump year over year.

“The interest rate environment, shaped by macroeconomic and global uncertainty, continues to drive intent volumes. Even a modest increase in rates this week led to an approximate 4% decline in mortgage intent week over week,” said Thomas Lloyd, Xactus’s chief strategy officer.

“Despite the pullback, the index maintained year-over-year growth of roughly 4.3% compared to the same week last year.”