Mortgage interest rates just hit a level not seen since the year 2000. As a result, mortgage demand is now sitting near a 27-year low.

Total mortgage application volume fell 1.3% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. Volume was 25.5% lower than the same week one year ago.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($726,200 or less) increased to 7.41%, from 7.31%, with points decreasing to 0.71 from 0.72 (including the origination fee) for loans with a 20% down payment. The rate was 6.52% one year ago.

The 30-year fixed jumbo mortgage rate increased to 7.34%, the highest rate in the history of the MBA’s jumbo rate series dating back to 2011.

  • ryathal
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    1 year ago

    A lot of institutional money would much rather buy a mortgage security than actual property. However the costs of servicing basically killed any gains when rates were in the 3s. It’s going to take a few more years, but many companies will likely start to reduce their real estate holdings as they get 3 and 5 year ROI numbers that are equal or less than mortgage securities.