Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications increased 11% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 2, 2025. 

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 11% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 12% compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 11% from the previous week and was 51% higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 11% from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 12% compared with the previous week and was 13% higher than the same week one year ago.’

“The economic news last week included a negative reading for first-quarter GDP growth and further signs of contraction in the manufacturing sector, mixed with a solid employment report for April. The net impact on mortgage rates was mostly downward but just back to levels from early April. The 30-year fixed rate declined to 6.84%,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and Chief Economist. “Conventional purchase application volume increased 13% and was up 9% from year-ago levels, a surprisingly strong move given lingering economic uncertainty. Borrowers of conventional loans tend to have larger loan sizes and more apt to be move-up buyers. Government purchase loans were also up 6% for the week, led by a 9% growth in FHA purchase applications.”

Added Fratantoni, “With rates moving lower, refinance volume increased 11%, led by VA refinance applications, which were up 26%.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 37.1% of total applications from 37.3% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 8.3% of total applications.

The FHA share of total applications decreased to 16.4% from 16.7% the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 13.3% from 13.1% the week prior. The USDA share of total applications decreased to 0.5% from 0.6% the week prior.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.84% from 6.89%, with points increasing to 0.68 from 0.67 (including the origination fee) for 80% 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 $806,500) decreased to 6.86% from 6.88%, with points decreasing to 0.46 from 0.60 (including the origination fee) for 80% 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 6.56% from 6.61%, with points increasing to 0.87 from 0.86 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans.  The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages remained unchanged at  6.17%, with points decreasing to 0.65 from 0.76 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 5.97% from 5.89%, with points decreasing to 0.31 from 0.63 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans.  The effective rate decreased from last week.

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

The survey covers U.S. closed-end residential mortgage applications originated through retail and consumer direct channels.  The survey has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks, thrifts, and credit unions. Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.