Reading Rates: MBA Application Survey – November 30 2011

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) publishes the results of a weekly applications survey that covers roughly 50 percent of all residential mortgage originations and tracks the average interest rate for 30 year and 15 year fixed rate mortgages as well as the volume of both purchase and refinance applications.

The purchase application index has been highlighted as a particularly important data series as it very broadly captures the demand side of residential real estate for both new and existing home purchases.

The latest data is showing that the average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage (from FHA and conforming GSE data) declined 4 basis points to 4.10% since last week while the purchase application volume declined 0.8% and the refinance application slumped 15.3% over the same period.

With rates at or near generational lows (including the 10-year T-Bill), the economy seemingly near recession and the FOMC members becoming more dovish by the day, it will be interesting to see how low rates on the long end can decline.

The following chart shows the average interest rate for 30 year and 15 year fixed rate mortgages since 2006 as well as the purchase, refinance and composite loan volumes (click for larger dynamic full-screen version).