Mortgage Applications Increased 14.2 Percent From One Week Earlier

Mortgage applications increased 14.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 13, 2024.  Last week’s results included an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 14.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 26 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 24 percent from the previous week and was 127 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 5 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 15 percent compared with the previous week and was 0.4 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

“Application activity was up significantly last week, as market expectations of a rate cut from the Fed pulled mortgage rates lower. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate, at 6.15 percent, is now at its lowest since September 2022 and is more than a full percentage point lower than a year ago,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Refinance applications were up 24 percent – more than double last year’s pace, with both conventional and government activity jumping to the fastest pace of refinancing since 2022.”

Added Kan, “There was also an increase in purchase applications, and it is notable that conventional purchase applications increased to a pace ahead of last year, which also drove overall purchase applications very close to year-ago levels. Homebuyers are seeing improving affordability conditions, sparked by lower rates and slower home-price growth.”  

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 51.2 percent of total applications from 46.7 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 5.9 percent of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications increased to 15.2 percent from 14.7 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 16.8 percent from 16.4 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at  0.4 percent from the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) decreased to 6.15 percent from 6.29 percent, with points increasing to 0.56 from 0.55 (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) decreased to 6.41 percent from 6.56 percent, with points increasing to 0.55 from 0.33 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.  

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 6.12 percent from 6.24 percent, with points increasing to 0.81 from 0.76 (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 decreased to 5.42 percent from 5.71 percent, with points decreasing to 0.70 from 0.73 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 5.66 percent from 5.85 percent, with points increasing to 0.49 from 0.29 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.