by Calculated Risk on 3/28/2012 08:38:00 AM

From the MBA: Refinance Applications Drop for Sixth Consecutive Week

Mortgage applications decreased 2.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 23, 2012. ...

The Refinance Index decreased 4.6 percent from the previous week. The Refinance Index has decreased for six consecutive weeks, falling to its lowest level since December, and is 24.2 percent lower than its 2012 peak observed in February. The decline in the Refinance Index this week was driven largely by a 12.0 percent drop in government refinance activity, while conventional refinance applications fell by less, decreasing 3.4 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3.3 percent from one week earlier.
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) increased to 4.23 percent, the highest rate since November 2011, from 4.19 percent

Now that the automated systems are available, we will probably see an increase in HARP refinance activity going forward.