2-23-17 Newz// Transportation failures, Polluted Cities, Appraisers Age

• Residential Cost Approach: complying with USPAP when lenders require the Cost Approach – Part 1 by Denis Desaix, MAI, SRA. Lots of good tips “appraiser files”, and suggested comments. Plus site value, old improvements, what USPAP says, sources for improvement costs, etc.
• How to get started in commercial appraising: 5+ unit apartments. Higher fees, steadier work, no AMCs, etc. 5+ unit appraisals are easier than 2-4 units. There are some options for those without a college degree.
• Appraiser surveys: blacklisting, regs/enforcement, background checks, pressure, liability issues, etc. What appraisers think about hot topics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2017) – Mortgage applications decreased 2.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 17, 2017.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1 percent compared with the previous week.  The Refinance Index decreased 1 percent from the previous week to the lowest level since January 2017. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 3 percent from one week earlier to the lowest level since November 2016. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 10 percent higher than the same week one year ago which included the President’s Day holiday. 

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 46.2 percent of total applications, the lowest level since November 2008, from 46.9 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 7.3 percent of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications decreased to 11.6 percent from 11.9 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 12.1 percent from 11.8 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications decreased to 0.9 percent from 1.0 percent the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($424,100 or less) increased to 4.36 percent from 4.32 percent, with points increasing to 0.35 from  0.34 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.  The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $424,100) increased to 4.29 percent from 4.28 percent, with points increasing to 0.28 from 0.27 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 4.14 percent from 4.12 percent, with points increasing to 0.33 from 0.31 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 3.56 percent from 3.55 percent, with points decreasing to 0.36 from 0.37 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 3.31 percent from 3.34 percent, with points increasing to 0.31 from 0.19 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate increased from last week.

The survey covers over 75 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, and has been conducted weekly since 1990.  Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.  Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.