MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest Survey, Mortgage Rates "lowest levels in close to a year"

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications decreased 3.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 30, 2014. This week’s results include an adjustment for the Memorial Day holiday. ...

The Refinance Index decreased 3 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 4 percent from one week earlier. ...
...
Interest rates for most products fell to their lowest levels in close to a year.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) decreased to 4.26 percent from 4.31 percent, with points decreasing to 0.13 from 0.15 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.


The first graph shows the refinance index.

The refinance index is down 73% from the levels in May 2013 (one year ago).

As expected, refinance activity is very low this year.


The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.  

According to the MBA, the unadjusted purchase index is down about 17% from a year ago.

Note: It appears mortgage rates will be down year-over-year in a few weeks.