REAL ESTATE

Mortgage Rates Dip, Spiking Refinance Demand

By: James Flippin · December 22, 2022 · Reading Time: 3 minutes

Sales Keep Sliding

In November, existing home sales fell for the 10th straight month. This added to an already record-long streak, with higher mortgage rates sapping demand overall and forcing some would-be homebuyers out of the market.

On a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, home sales checked in at 4.09 million for November. That’s the weakest rate observed since May of 2020, when the pandemic was wreaking havoc on the housing market. November’s sales declined 35.4% year-over-year, and the category is down 37% from its January peak.

The most direct cause is rising interest rates, leading to higher borrowing costs. In early November, mortgage rates jumped above 7%, after checking in closer to 3% at the end of last year.

Refinance Resurgence

As mortgage rates rose earlier this year, the number of applications to refinance a mortgage plummeted. Following a period of historically-low interest rates, there were fewer borrowers who stood to benefit from such a transaction. But now that rates have fallen to their lowest level since September, refinance demand is on the rise.

While applications to purchase a home decreased by 0.1% last week, mortgage refinance applications shot up 6%. Still, the Mortgage Bankers Association notes applications are 85% lower than the same week in 2021, illustrating just how far mortgage rates have risen.

Buyer’s Balancing Act

For would-be homebuyers, the current situation calls for a delicate balancing act. Rising rates are a challenge, given the increased borrowing costs. But that same trend has pushed down demand, softening prices. The National Association of Realtors® says the median existing-home price fell for the fifth straight month after peaking at $413,800 in June.

There are also more first-time buyers entering the market — the group made up 28% of the market last month, which was up 2% year-over-year. Still, with demand down overall, some home builders are cutting prices and offering buyers incentives. So while facing higher mortgage rates remains less than ideal, it’s also making a difference when it comes to prices.

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