Mortgage application activity fell once again as refinance volume dropped to its lowest level since September 2014, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.
There was a 2.3% decline in application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the period ending April 24. The seasonally adjusted purchase index remained unchanged, while the refinance index plunged 4% during the same time span.
Overall, the refinance share of mortgage activity fell to its lowest level since last September at 55%.
Other mortgage types saw gains, however. The
Adjustable-rate mortgages also grew their share of total activity to 5.7%, but the USDA share yet again remained steady at 0.8%.
As for interest rates, the results for the week were more of a mixed bag. The contract interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgages with a balance above $417,000 dropped one basis point to 3.82% from 3.83%. The average contract interest rate for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages also decreased by one basis point to 2.88%.
Otherwise though, interest rates rose modestly. For 30-year fixed conforming mortgages below $417,000 the average interest rate increased two basis points to 3.85%. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA rose by one basis point to 3.65% and the average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages grew to 3.14% from 3.11%.
