Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2024) — Mortgage applications decreased 3.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending July 26, 2024. 

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 3.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 4 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 7 percent from the previous week and was 32 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 2 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent compared with the previous week and was 14 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

"Mortgage rates were little changed last week, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate unchanged at 6.82 percent," said Mike Fratantoni, MBA's SVP and Chief Economist. "In recent weeks, there have been some small bursts of refinance activity, particularly for FHA and VA loans. Last week, VA refi application volume dropped sharply, which drove the aggregate result. Borrowers may be waiting for signs that mortgage rates will drift lower as the Federal Reserve begins to cut short-term rates. Purchase volume also dropped slightly because of ongoing affordability challenges.” 

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 38.2 percent of total applications from 39.7 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 5.7 percent of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications increased to 14.2 percent from 13.4 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications decreased to 13.5 percent from 14.8 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications increased to 0.5 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) remained unchanged at 6.82 percent, with points increasing to 0.62 from 0.59 (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) decreased to 7.07 percent from 7.09 percent, with points decreasing to 0.53 from 0.54 (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 6.69 percent from 6.71 percent, with points decreasing to 0.84 from 0.86 (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 6.27 percent from 6.21 percent, with points decreasing to 0.49 from 0.51 (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 6.22 percent from 6.19 percent, with points decreasing to 0.45 from 0.52 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.  The effective rate remained unchanged from last week.

If you would like to purchase a subscription of MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey, please visit www.mba.org/WeeklyApps, contact [email protected] or click  here.

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.