According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Market Composite Index, the Refinance Index is 50 percent lower compared to the same week one year ago, in January 2021. During the same week there was a small uptick over last year in purchase mortgage activity.
Mortgage interest rates have begun to rise, and as a result January saw the first decrease in mortgage refinance volume since November 2020. The long running record of historically low rates may be news of the past after several weeks of rising rates.
Mortgage refinance rates are at such a low point that, according to a recent article on CNBC.com, nearly 20 million home owners could save money if they refinance now. Are you one of the 20 million?
The percentage of refinance loans increased to 55% in March, with growth occurring across every type of loan. The average interest rate for 30 year fixed rate loans in March was the lowest it has been since January of 2013.
According to a February 12, 2020 article, written by Jann Swanson for Mortgage News Daily, “Refinancing was up for the third straight week, adding 5 percent to that index which is now 207 percent higher than on an annual basis. The share of applications that were for refinancing grew to 65.5 percent; 1 percentage point higher than the prior week.”