Loan Apps Rise as Rates Dip Below 5 Percent

Loan Apps Rise as Rates Dip Below 5 Percent Average mortgage rates dipped below 5 percent last week, driving mortgage application volume up 11.3 percent to 723.4 from 649.7 the previous week on an adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 11.6 percent compared with the previous week and was up 5.7 percent compared with the same week a year ago.

The increase was reflected in the government purchase index (mostly FHA), which rose 10.4 percent. The overall purchase index was up 7.1 percent. The refinance share increased to 67.9 percent, up slightly from the previous week when it was at 66.9 percent.Mortgage rates were down to the second-lowest rate in the history of the survey, with the record low being 4.89 percent for the week ending Jan. 9, 2009.


30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.96 percent from 5.14 percent;
15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.54 percent from 4.73 percent;
1-year ARMs increased to 6.21 percent

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (03/11/2009)