Does anyone remember when the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage was up around 8 percent? I do.

Perhaps that’s why it continues to stun me that a tiny shift in our now ultra low rates can have a huge effect on consumer activity, namely refinancing. No question, it is a statement on just how tight and how sensitive our current mortgage market is today.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey, “The Refinance Index decreased 9.2 percent from the previous week. The Refinance Index has decreased for 3 consecutive weeks, reaching its lowest level since May 6, 2011.”

The mortgage bankers cite a jump (and by jump, I mean more like a hop) in rates on the 30 year from 4.46 percent to 4.69 percent. This is the highest rate since mid-May, they note, which I will note was just two months ago.

Yes, that’s a pretty large jump, but we are still below 5! The trouble is that there is a very small pool of eligible refinancers right now, because 1) so many have already refinanced at these incredibly low rates, 2) many borrowers are still underwater on their homes, which makes them largely ineligible for super low rates and 3) many borrowers don’t have enough equity or the proper credit score to get into a refi that’s worth the cost.

Page 1 of 2 | Next Page
Show Entire Article

Did Markets Know Obama Was Going to Tap Oil Reserve?

‘Perfect Storm’ Coming for Global Economy in 2013: Roubini

Banks Are Finally Lending Again-Just Not to You

June Jobs Data to Show 125,000 Added: Hatzius

Visa Sees Lower Revenue Growth After Debit Crackdown

More Top Stories

Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/43654703?__source=RSS*blog*&par=RSS