by Calculated Risk on 12/17/2014 07:01:00 AM

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

Mortgage applications decreased 3.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 12, 2014. ...

The Refinance Index remained unchanged from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 7 percent from one week earlier.
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) decreased to 4.06 percent, the lowest level since May 2013, from 4.11 percent, with points decreasing to 0.21 from 0.28 (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 72% from the levels in May 2013.

Even with the general decline in mortgage rates, refinance activity is very low this year and 2014 will be the lowest since year 2000.  As I've noted before - rates would have to decline significantly for there to be a large refinance boom.


The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.  

According to the MBA, the unadjusted purchase index is down about 5% from a year ago.