According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, the number of Americans who requested applications for loans to buy homes rose 5 percent last week. The improvement puts demand for home purchase loans 17 percent higher than it was at the same time one year ago. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, told CNBC purchase application demand rebounded last week after a slight lull. “Purchase applications got back on track last week, resuming the level of activity observed throughout most of April and May,” Fisher said. On the other hand, refinance demand was relatively flat – mostly due to a slight rise in average mortgage rates. In fact, rates were up across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Also in the report, the average home purchase loan hit an all-time survey high of $307,700. This reflects a lack of homes available for sale at the lower end of the market. Since there are more high-end homes for sale this spring, the average loan size has climbed. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.
Demand For Home Purchase Loans Rises
