Mortgage Originations Rise Throughout New England

BOSTON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Low mortgage rates and increased home sales are leading to increased mortgage activity in New England, according to new data from The Warren Group's Mortgage MarketShare Module.

While Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island all recorded strong activity so far this year, mortgage activity in Massachusetts has been the strongest.

Total mortgage activity in the Bay State is up more than 28 percent statewide – rising to 99,097 in the first four months of this year from 76,930 during the same period a year ago. Purchase mortgages have increased almost 13 percent to 13,376 from 11,851. Nonpurchase, or refinance mortgages rose 32 percent to 85,721 from 65,079 during the first four months of 2011.

"The housing market has rebounded recently with single-family home sales volume increasing in nine of the last 10 months," said Timothy M. Warren Jr. , CEO of The Warren Group. "More home sales translate to more purchase mortgages. But the real story is the increased volume of refinance mortgages. Low interest rates and a revamped federal program called Home Affordable Refinance Program are making lower monthly payments possible for many more homeowners."

More than 86 percent of total mortgages were refinances so far this year, compared to 84.5 percent during the same period last year. Nationally, the refinance share of applications is about 78 percent, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

In Connecticut, all mortgage activity is up more than 16 percent in 2012. For the first four months of the year, 43,179 mortgages have been originated, up from 37,074 during the same period in 2011.

A total of 12,974 mortgages have been originated in Rhode Island so far this year, up from 10,416 during the same period last year.

To see a chart of Massachusetts mortgage activity trends, click here.

About The Warren Group

The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman and The Commercial Record, collects and compiles data on real estate sales, lending and ownership throughout New England and offers a range of real estate products, information services and printed and online publications. Its customized tool, Mortgage MarketShare Module, monitors, analyzes and tracks lending activity in New England. It allows for flexibility to evaluate market activity by time period, lending territories, geographic area, mortgage type and mortgage amount. For more information, visit http://www.thewarrengroup.com/business/data-solutions/mortgage-marketshare/

Contact:

Michelle Laczkoski
(617) 896-5355
mlaczkoski@thewarrengroup.com                   

SOURCE The Warren Group

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