• Mortgage applications nationally have risen 9.3% as borrowers refinanced their home loans at exceptionally low interest rates.

• The Mortgage Bankers Association said refinancing applications grew dramatically with the refi index jumping 11.2% after the Fed announced it would move its portfolio toward longer-term Treasury securities.

• The purchase index has grown 2.6%, suggesting an increase in new home applications at the lower interest rates.

• With lower rates, refinance application volume increased to its highest level since August 19, 2011.

• Conventional purchase application volume rose by 4.9%.• Purchase applications for government loans fell by 0.6% over the

previous week, likely influenced by the pending decline in FHA loan limits.

Mortgage Applications Rise

• The average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low of 4.01% in the week ending September 29 from 4.09% in the prior week (these data go back to 1971), according to Freddie Mac.

• The decline follows the Federal Reserve’s announcement of its Maturity Extension Program and additional purchases of mortgage-backed securities.

• Broken out by national region, the rate was lowest in the West (3.95%), highest in the Southeast (4.09%), and 4.08% in the Southwest.

• A year ago, the overall 30-year rate was at 4.32%.

• The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also hit a record low last week, ticking down to 3.28% from 3.29% a week earlier.

30-Year Mortgage at Record Lows

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HAR Tool of the Week

Weekly HAR Market StatHome buyers made more purchases during the week ending September 25 than they did over that same period last year. Sellers took a breather, listing fewer properties than last year. With the arrival of the fourth and final quarter of 2011, the vast majority of annual data is already in the books. Watch for favorable changes in inventory levels and improving absorption rates, and keep an eye on seller concessions. The affordability picture, driven by record low interest rates, should remain encouraging.

In the Houston region, for the week ending September 25:• New Listings decreased 2.5% to 1,884

• Pending Sales increased 21.5% to 1,220 • Closed Sales increased 0.5% to 985

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