Real estate purchases rebound

Real estate purchases rebound

Borrowers not thwarted by higher interest rates

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Inman News

Overall mortgage applications were up 5.2 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis from the week before, with refinancings posting the largest increase, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey.

The seasonally adjusted refinance index increased by 7 percent to 1,596.4 from 1,484.3 one week earlier, while the purchase index increased by 4 percent to 495.1 from 476.2 the previous week.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41 percent of total applications from 39.1 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate-mortgage share of activity increased to 33.1 percent of total applications from 33 percent the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.32 percent from 6.2 percent one week earlier. Points including the origination fee increased to 1.3 from 1.17 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.84 percent from 5.72 percent. Points including the origination fee increased to 1.37 from 1.26 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for one-year adjustable-rate mortgages increased to 5.49 percent from 5.39 percent one week earlier. Points including the origination fee decreased to 0.91 from 0.96 for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio loans.

Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Bankers Association is a national association representing the real estate finance industry. The survey covers approximately 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage originations, and has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.