“As incoming economic data reassured investors regarding U.S. growth, and financial markets returned to viewing a December Fed hike as increasingly likely, mortgage rates rose to their highest level in a month last week,” says Michael Fratantoni, the MBA’s chief economist. “Total and refinance application volume dropped to their lowest levels since June as a result.”
Refinancings have been dropping for several weeks now, with an 8 percent drop last week. Mortgage applications for home purchases, on the other hand, posted a smaller drop at 3 percent week over week. Purchase applications are still 27 percent higher than a year ago.
Source: “Mortgage Applications Down 6% as Rising Rates Take a Toll,” CNBC (Oct. 12, 2016)
