Mortgage Applications Increased 1.1 Percent From One Week Earlier

Mortgage applications increased 1.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 9, 2025.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 1.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1 percent compared with the previous week.  The Refinance Index decreased 0.4 percent from the previous week and was 44 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 18 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

“Last week saw steadier mortgage rates, as the FOMC meeting played as predicted, and market movements led to a small two-basis point increase in the 30-year conforming rate to 6.86 percent,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and Chief Economist. “Refinance volume was little changed for the week, with a small increase in government refinances, and a decrease in conventional refinances. The news for the week was the growth in purchase applications, up 2.3 percent and almost 18 percent higher than last year’s pace. Despite the economic uncertainty, the increase in home inventory means there are additional properties to buy, unlike the last two years, and this supply is supporting more transactions.”

Added Fratantoni, “There was a notable gain in government purchase applications, up almost 5 percent for the week and 40 percent on an annual basis.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 36.4 percent of total applications from 37.1 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 7.4 percent of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications increased to 17.4 percent from 16.4 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 13.4 percent from 13.3 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.5 percent from the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) increased to 6.86 percent from 6.84 percent, with points remaining unchanged at 0.68 (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 $806,500) decreased to 6.85 percent from 6.86 percent, with points increasing to 0.49 from 0.46 (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 6.59 percent from 6.56 percent, with points increasing to 0.89 from 0.87 (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 decreased to 6.12 percent from 6.17 percent, with points decreasing to 0.59 from 0.65 (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 increased to 6.09 percent from 5.97 percent, with points increasing to 0.74 from 0.31 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.