Homebuyer demand for mortgages picked up last week as rates declined for the second week in a row, even as lenders continue to tighten standards to levels not seen in a decade, according to two reports released this week by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

The MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey shows demand for purchase loans was up by a seasonally adjusted 8 percent last week when compared to the week before but down 27 percent compared to the same time a year ago. Requests to refinance were also up 6 percent week over week, but down 41 percent from a year ago.

Another MBA report analyzing data from ICE Mortgage Technology found lenders tightened standards for the third month in a row in May, with mortgage credit availability falling to the lowest level since January 2013.

The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a measure of lending standards that uses March 2012 as a benchmark of 100, fell by 3.1 percent to 96.5 in May.
Lending standards are tightening because of industry consolidation and reduced capacity as a result of the tougher market, with lenders pulling back on offering loans to borrowers seeking higher loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages and lower credit score loans. Lenders offering government-backed FHA, VA and USDA loans tightened standards by 3.8 percent in May.

Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey shows consumers are aware that lenders are tightening, with 55 percent of those surveyed in May saying they think it would be difficult to get a mortgage, up from 45 percent a year ago.

For the week ending June 9, the MBA reported average rates for the following types of loans:

• For 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgages (loan balances of $726,200 or less), rates averaged 6.77 percent, down from 6.81 percent the week before. With points decreasing to 0.65 from 0.66 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans, the effective rate also decreased.
• Rates for 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgages (loan balances greater than $726,200) averaged 6.79 percent, up from 6.74 percent the week before. Although points decreased to 0.5 from 0.56 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans, the effective rate also increased.
• For 30-year fixed-rate FHA mortgages, rates averaged 6.70 percent, down from 6.73 percent the week before. With points decreasing to 1.14 from 1.15 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans, the effective rate also decreased.
• Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.25 percent, unchanged from the week before. But with points increasing to 1.05 from 0.62 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans, the effective rate increased.
• For 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), rates averaged 5.90 percent, down from 5.93 percent the week before. But with points increasing to 1.17 from 0.96 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans, the effective rate increased.