Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 25, 2024) - Mortgage applications increased 11.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 20, 2024.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 11.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 11 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 20 percent from the previous week and was 175 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 0.4 percent compared with the previous week and was 2 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

"Mortgage applications increased to their highest level since July 2022, boosted by a 20 percent increase in refinance applications after a large increase the prior week. The 30-year fixed rate decreased for the eighth straight week to 6.13 percent, while the FHA rate decreased to 5.99 percent, breaking the psychologically important 6 percent level," Joel Kan, MBA's Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. "As a result of lower rates, week-over-week gains for both conventional and government refinance applications increased sharply. The refinance share of applications is now at 55.7 percent, and while the level of refinance activity is still modest compared to prior refi waves, they now account for the majority of applications, given the seasonal slowdown in purchase activity."

Added Kan, "Average loan sizes were higher both for purchase and refinance applications, which pushed the overall average loan size to its highest in the survey's history at $413,100."

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 55.7 percent of total applications from 51.2 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity remained unchanged at 5.9 percent of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications decreased to 15.0 percent from 15.2 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 18.3 percent from 16.8 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications decreased to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) decreased to 6.13 percent from 6.15 percent, with points increasing to 0.57 from 0.56 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $766,550) increased to 6.47 percent from 6.41 percent, with points decreasing to 0.50 from 0.55 (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 decreased to 5.99 percent from 6.12 percent, with points decreasing to 0.79 from 0.81 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.47 percent from 5.42 percent, with points decreasing to 0.52 from 0.70 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate remained unchanged from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 5.76 percent from 5.66 percent, with points decreasing to 0.44 from 0.49 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

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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.