WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) — U.S. mortgage activity declined last week, as long-term interest rates rose, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday.
The association said mortgage activity declined 7.1 percent from the previous week while refinancing activity dropped 8 percent in the week ending Friday.
Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgages increased from 3.81 percent to 3.82 percent during the week. Points for 30-year conforming loans fell from 0.39 to 0.38.
The average interest rate for 30-year contracts on jumbo loans — larger than $417,500 — rose from 3.9 percent to 3.95 percent. Points for 30-year jumbo loans fell from 0.46 to 0.36.
Interest rates for 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages rose from 3.01 percent to 3.02 percent, with points falling from 0.42 to 0.36.
The average rate for 30-year loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration held steady at 3.53 percent with points falling from 0.38 to 0.31. The average rate for short-term, adjustable-rate mortgages decreased in the week from 2.62 percent to 2.59 percent in the week, with points rising from 0.33 to 0.4, the MBA said.
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