US MBA Text: Mkt Composite -2.6%, Refis -3% January 26 Wk

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the text of the Mortgage Bankers

Association's Mortgage Applications Survey released Wednesday morning:

     Mortgage applications decreased 2.6 percent from one week earlier,

according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage

Applications Survey for the week ending January 26, 2018. 

     The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume,

decreased 2.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On

an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 12 percent compared with the previous

week. The Refinance Index decreased 3 percent from the previous week. The

seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 3 percent from one week earlier.

The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 15 percent compared with the previous

week and was 10 percent higher than the same week one year ago. 

     The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 47.8 percent of total

applications, its lowest level since August 2017, from 49.4 percent the previous

week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 5.7

percent of total applications. 

     The FHA share of total applications decreased to 10.7 percent from 11.4

percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications decreased to 10.1

percent from 10.9 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications

remained unchanged at 0.8 percent. 

     The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with

conforming loan balances ($453,100 or less) increased to its highest level since

March 2017, 4.41 percent, from 4.36 percent, with points increasing to 0.56 from

0.54 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV)

loans. The effective rate increased from last week. 

     The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with

jumbo loan balances (greater than $453,100) increased to its highest level since

March 2017, 4.34 percent, from 4.31 percent, with points increasing to 0.40 from

0.38 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective

rate increased from last week. 

     The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed

by the FHA increased to its highest level since September 2013, 4.40 percent,

from 4.37 percent, with points increasing to 0.68 from 0.65 (including the

origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from

last week. 

     The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages

increased to its highest level since April 2011, 3.85 percent, from 3.81

percent, with points increasing to 0.60 from 0.52 (including the origination

fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week. 

     The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to its highest

level since March 2011, 3.79 percent, from 3.70 percent, with points increasing

to 0.41 from 0.39 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The

effective rate increased from last week.

--MNI Washington Bureau; tel: +1 202-371-2121; email: kevin.kastner@marketnews.com

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