MBA Weekly Survey Sept. 27: Applications Decrease

Mortgage applications decreased 1.3 percent from one week earlier, according the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 22, 2023.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.3 percent on
a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 2
percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 1 percent from the previous
week and was 21 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 2 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 27 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

“Mortgage rates moved to their highest levels in over 20 years as Treasury yields increased late last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 7.41 percent, the highest rate since December 2000, and the 30-year fixed jumbo mortgage rate increased to 7.34 percent, the highest rate in the history of the jumbo rate series dating back to 2011,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Based on the FOMC’s most recent projections, rates are expected to be higher for longer, which drove the increase in Treasury yields. Overall applications declined, as both prospective homebuyers and homeowners continue to feel the impact of these elevated rates. The purchase market, which is still facing limited for-sale inventory and eroded purchasing power, saw applications down over the week and 27 percent behind last year’s pace. Refinance activity was down over 20 percent from last year and accounted for approximately one third of applications, as many homeowners have little incentive to refinance.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 31.9 percent of total applications from 31.6 percent
the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 7.5 percent of total
applications.

The FHA share of total applications decreased to 14.1 percent from 14.2 percent the week prior. The VA
share of total applications decreased to 10.9 percent from 11.0 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
($726,200 or less) increased to 7.41 percent, the highest level since December 2000, from 7.31 percent,
with points decreasing to 0.71 from 0.72 (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 $726,200) increased to 7.34 percent, the highest level since the series’ inception in January 2011,
from 7.32 percent, with points decreasing to 0.78 from 0.80 (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 7.16
percent, the highest level since March 2002, from 7.08 percent, with points increasing to 0.96 from 0.92
(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 6.73 percent, the highest
level since July 2001, from 6.62 percent, with points increasing to 1.17 from 1.08 (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 6.47 percent from 6.42 percent, with points
increasing to 1.58 from 1.10 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate
increased from last week.

Click here to purchase a subscription of MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey.

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.