Despite A Trillion Dollars In Mortgage Intervention, Refinances Hard To Come By

Mortgage interest rates are at their lowest levels since the 1940s, but refinances are hard to come by. Regulators are pressuring banks to up their reserves, which means less money for loans.

The bad economy also makes banks leery of lending. If the economy goes to hell, such loans are less likely to be repaid.

The New York Times reports:

The president is scheduled to meet with banking executives at the White House on Monday in another administration effort to increase the flow of loans to consumers and small businesses. Among those expected to attend are representatives from Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs.

An estimated six of 10 homeowners with mortgages have rates that exceed the 4.8 percent rate currently available on 30-year fixed mortgages, the least risky form of home loans.

Nevertheless, only half as many refinancing applications were reported last week than were reported at the beginning of January, the peak level for the year. The total dollar volume of refinancing activity in 2009 will be about $1 trillion. In 2003, another year when rates fell, it was $2.8 trillion.