Mortgage applications fell by 2% for the week, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, while volume was 19% less in the same week last year. The drop comes amid rising interest rates, which has staved off homebuyers during a summer season where real estate activity is typically at its peak.
Applications for purchase transactions fell by 3% compared to the previous week–its lowest level since February. Overall, applications were also 3% less versus the same time a year prior.
Rising rates have been paired with a marked increase in real estate prices as of late, which have put the clamps on summer real estate activity where sales and purchase transactions typically experience an uptick. According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), this combination of high prices and interest rates helped to bring down housing affordability to a 10-year low in the second quarter of 2018.
The national median home price jumped from $252,000 in the first quarter of 2018 to $265,000 in the second quarter — the highest quarterly median price in the history of the HOI series. Furthermore, a supply-demand imbalance exists–while home prices are rising, the supply of homes is relatively low.
Mortgage Rates Step Back: https://t.co/1UVE1ZMOY1
Chief Economist @TheSamKhater: “Purchase mortgage applications trailed year ago levels again last week. The combination of ascending home prices, limited affordable inventory and higher rates are curtailing homebuyer demand.” pic.twitter.com/zDEApWtCNW
— Freddie Mac (@FreddieMac) August 16, 2018
Housing Starts Less-than-Expected
The latest homebuilding data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development posted a weaker-than-expected rebound as housing starts rose 0.9% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.168 million units in July. In addition, revisions to the June data showed housing starts slowing to a 1.158 million-unit rate, which is its lowest level since September 2017.