US Mortgage Application Decline

The volume of mortgage applications in the US fell by 6.4% from the previous week on the period ending July 24th to mark the sharpest weekly decline in two months. The drop was in line with the increase in benchmark mortgage rates, with that on a 30-year fixed contract rising to a one-year high of 6.76%, as inflationary pressures and evidence of a robust labor market supported expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike this year. Applications to refinance a mortgage, which are sensitive to short-term changes in interest rates, fell by 9.9% from the previous week to the lowest level since May of last year. Meanwhile, applications for a mortgage to buy a new home fell by 3.6%.

The volume of mortgage applications in the US rose by 1.9% on the week ending July 17th, rebounding from two straight losses in the preceding periods, according to data compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The slight bounce took place despite another period of increasing interest rates, with the benchmark 30-year fixed-mortgage gaining 4bps to its highest in 11 months. Rising fuel prices due to a fresh halt on Middle Eastern energy supply raised yields on longer-maturity Treasury securities. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a new home rose 6%, with surveys on real estate agents noting that sellers seem to be more willing to cut prices. In turn, applications to refinance a mortgage, which are more sensitive to short-term changes in interest rates, fell by 2%.

The volume of mortgage applications in the US fell by 2.7% from the previous week on the period to July 10th, extending the decline from the earlier week, according to data compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The drop was aligned with the 7bps increase in benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rates to 6.65%, tying for the highest in 11 months, as concerns of higher energy inflation drove yields on longer-term Treasury notes and bonds to rise sharply in the period. Applications for a contract to refinance a mortgage, which are sensible to short-term changes in interest rates, fell by 4%. Meanwhile, applications for a mortgage to purchase a home dropped by a sharper 7%.