Mortgage Applications Decreased 5.1 Percent From One Week Earlier

Mortgage applications decreased 5.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 4, 2024. 

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 5 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 9 percent from the previous week and was 159 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 0.1 percent compared with the previous week and was 8 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

“In the wake of stronger economic data last week, including the September jobs report, mortgage rates moved higher, with the 30-year fixed rate rising to 6.36 percent – the highest since August,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and Chief Economist. “Conventional loan refinances, which tend to have larger balances than government loans and hence are more responsive for a given change in mortgage rates, fell to a greater extent over the week. Purchase application volume was little changed over the week and was 8 percent above last year’s level.”

Added Fratantoni, “As we have highlighted before, the decision to buy a home is impacted by many factors, not just the level of mortgage rates. The largest constraint for many prospective homebuyers over the past year had been the lack of inventory. Now, there are more homes available in many markets across the country, and with mortgage rates still low compared to recent history, at least some potential homebuyers are moving ahead.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 52.4 percent of total applications from 54.9 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 decreased to 16.2 percent from 16.6 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 16.9 percent from 15.4 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) increased to 6.36 percent from 6.14 percent, with points increasing to 0.62 from 0.61 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $766,550) increased to 6.64 percent from 6.50 percent, with points increasing to 0.50 from 0.36 (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 increased to 6.22 percent from 6.06 percent, with points increasing to 0.85 from 0.75 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.71 percent from 5.51 percent, with points increasing to 0.67 from 0.62 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 6.06 percent from 5.87 percent, with points increasing to 0.61 from 0.55 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate increased from last week.