Mortgage rates drop to lowest since mid-December, but demand still falls short

Mortgage interest rates dropped again last week, hitting the lowest level in two months, but demand for mortgages didn’t respond. Total mortgage application volume fell 1.2% from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.88% from 6.93%, with points dropping to 0.61 from 0.66 (including the origination fee) for loans with a 20% down payment.

“Treasury yields moved lower on softer consumer spending data as consumers are feeling somewhat less upbeat about the economy and job market. This pushed mortgage rates lower, with the 30-year fixed rate decreasing to 6.88%, the lowest rate since mid-December,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist.

Applications to refinance a home loan, which had been surging through much of January and early February, fell 4% for the week but were 45% higher than the same week one year ago. Last year at this time, mortgage rates were 16 basis points higher.

“Although overall refinance application activity remained fairly weak, FHA refinance applications saw an 8 percent increase over the week,” Kan added.

Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home were flat for the week and 3% higher than the same week one year ago. The resale market is seeing more supply, partly because homes are sitting on the market longer. But while there are more options, prices are not easing much, as inventories are still historically low.

Mortgage rates continued to drop to start this week, according to a separate survey from Mortgage News Daily. Over the past four business days, the average top-tier mortgage rate has fallen by 0.22%. That may not seem like a lot, but rates been moving in a very narrow range for the past month.

“Long story short, bonds are in fashion at the moment,” wrote Matthew Graham, chief operating officer at Mortgage News Daily, noting that when demand rises, rates fall. “The broadest and most common explanations have to do with expectations for a downshift in global economic growth in response to domestic tariffs and cost-cutting efforts.”

Correction: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.88% from 6.93%. An earlier version misstated a figure.