Overview
A weekly index of US mortgage applications compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association, split between purchase and refinance activity. Read alongside mortgage rates as a gauge of shifting housing demand. Released each Wednesday for the prior week.
Sources & links
Latest release
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on October 28, 2026 that its Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — rose 3.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending October 23, 2026. This marks a sharp reversal from the prior week ending October 16, which recorded a decline of 5.3 percent.
Breaking down the components, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 4 percent from the prior week, while the Refinance Index rose 3 percent. MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan noted that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 7.37 percent — its lowest level in three weeks and the second consecutive weekly decline — providing some relief that drove applications higher, "particularly conventional applications."
The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of applications climbed to 11.3 percent, the highest in more than a year, as borrowers sought to reduce monthly payments. On an unadjusted basis, purchase applications remained 18 percent below the same week one year ago, and refinance applications were down 61 percent year over year.
Past release articles
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on October 21, 2026, that its Market Composite Index — a seasonally adjusted measure of mortgage loan application volume — fell 5.3% on a week-over-week basis for the week ending October 16, 2026. The decline accelerated from the prior week's drop of 2.7% (week ending October 9), marking a second consecutive weekly decrease.
Among the sub-components, purchase applications fell 7% from the previous week and stood 18% below year-ago levels. Refinance applications also slipped 2% week over week. Although the 30-year fixed mortgage rate eased slightly to 7.41% in the latest survey week, rates had reached 7.50% the prior week — the highest level since November 2023 — continuing to weigh on overall demand. Borrowers have increasingly turned to adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) to reduce monthly payments, with the ARM share rising to 10.5%, its highest level since October 2025.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on October 7, 2026, that its Market Composite Index fell 4.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending October 2, 2026. The decline follows a 6.0% drop in the prior week ending September 25, marking a moderation in the pace of decrease but a continued downward trend.
The Refinance Index dropped 8% week over week and stood 56% below the same week a year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index fell 2%, and on an unadjusted basis it was 15% lower than the same week last year. MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan noted that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 7.49%, its highest level in nearly three years, driven by rising Treasury rates and widening spreads amid increased rate volatility.
Purchase applications declined across all loan types, with FHA purchase applications recording the steepest drop at 6%, reflecting ongoing affordability pressures for homebuyers. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share held steady at 10.3% of total applications, as borrowers continued to seek lower initial payments through variable-rate products.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly mortgage applications survey on October 21, 2026, covering the week ending October 16. The Market Composite Index fell 5.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week, worsening from the previous reading of -2.7% for the week ending October 9. The decline marked the seventh consecutive weekly drop and pushed applications to their lowest level since January 2025.
Among the sub-components, the purchase applications index declined 7.3% week over week and stood 18% below year-ago levels. The refinance index also fell 2% from the prior week. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged down slightly to 7.41% from 7.50%, yet failed to stem the broader retreat in application activity.
MBA data reflect continued headwinds for housing demand, with rising bond yields and renewed inflationary pressures—partly linked to surging energy prices—sustaining expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated. Both purchase and refinance activity remained well below year-earlier levels.
Mortgage applications fell 4.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending September 11, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey released on September 16. The decline follows the previous week's (ending September 4) drop of 2.7%, widening the pace of decrease to the steepest weekly fall since July. Results for this week include an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.
By category, the Refinance Index declined 9% from the prior week and stood 65% below the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index fell 1% week-over-week, while the unadjusted Purchase Index dropped 13% from the previous week and was 19% lower than the same week last year. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgages (balances of $832,750 or less) rose to 6.97% from 6.85% the prior week, reaching its highest level since May 2025.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on September 9, 2026, that its Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — decreased 2.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending September 4, 2026. This reversed the prior week's (ending August 28) gain of 0.8 percent.
The Refinance Index fell 6 percent from the previous week and stood 25 percent below the same week one year ago. According to MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.85 percent, its highest level since June 2025, driving refinance applications to their slowest weekly pace since May 2025. MBA attributed the rate increase to ongoing investor concerns over inflation and the federal budget deficit.
The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index edged down just 0.2 percent from the prior week, while the unadjusted Purchase Index declined 3 percent but remained 4 percent above year-ago levels. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of applications climbed to 8.5 percent, the highest since June, indicating a shift by borrowers away from fixed-rate products. MBA noted that while housing inventory has increased in many markets, elevated mortgage rates continue to weigh on prospective homebuyers.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on September 30, 2026, that its Market Composite Index—a measure of mortgage loan application volume—fell 6.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending September 25, 2026. The decline widened from the prior week's drop of 1.5% (week ending September 18), marking a continuation of the recent downward trend.
By category, the Refinance Index dropped 9% from the previous week and stood 56% below the same week one year ago, while the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index fell 4% week over week. Both purchase and refinance applications declined to their slowest weekly pace since 2025. Government refinance applications fell 13%, with FHA and VA segments both posting double-digit decreases.
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 7.3%, its highest level in three years. With fixed rates significantly elevated, the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of applications climbed to 10.3%—the highest share since October 2025—as ARM rates were approximately 80 basis points below fixed-rate loans.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on August 12, 2026, that its Market Composite Index — a seasonally adjusted measure of mortgage loan application volume — rose 3.6% on a week-over-week basis for the week ending August 7, 2026. This follows a 2.9% decline recorded for the week ending July 31, 2026, marking the first increase in two weeks.
MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan noted that a modest pullback in mortgage rates, after five consecutive weeks of increases, supported the uptick in applications. The 30-year fixed conforming mortgage rate edged down four basis points to 6.77% from 6.81% the prior week, though it remained near its highest level in roughly a year. The Refinance Index rose 5% from the previous week, while the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3%.
The refinance share of total applications climbed to 40.7% from 39.9% the prior week. Kan noted, however, that the average loan size for refinance applications fell to its lowest level since July 2025, reflecting diminished refinance incentives at current rate levels. Overall application volume has also been running below the pace seen one year ago in recent weeks.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on August 5, 2026, that mortgage applications decreased 2.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending July 31, 2026. This follows a 6.4% decline in the prior week (ending July 24), marking two consecutive weeks of decreases, though the pace of decline moderated.
Breaking down the components, the Refinance Index fell 2% from the prior week and was 9% lower than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dropped 4% week-over-week and was also 3% below its year-ago level. The MBA cited rising longer-term rates following the July FOMC meeting as a key factor, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbing to 6.81%.
In terms of loan-type composition, the FHA share rose to 17.3% from 16.9% the prior week, while the VA share edged down to 12.3% from 12.6%. The refinance share of total applications ticked up slightly to 39.9% from 39.5% the previous week.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on July 29, 2026, that its Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — fell 6.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending July 24. This reversed the prior week's (ending July 17) gain of 1.9%.
The Refinance Index declined 10% from the previous week and was also 2% below the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index fell 4% week over week. The refinance share of total applications slipped to 39.5% from 41.2% the prior week, while the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share rose to 8.1%.
Joel Kan, MBA's vice president and deputy chief economist, attributed the decline to a rise in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 6.76% — its highest level since August 2025 — following a spike in oil prices the week prior. He noted that despite housing inventory increasing in certain markets, higher rates have added to affordability challenges for homebuyers, driving the pullback in purchase applications.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on July 22, 2026, that its Market Composite Index rose 1.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending July 17, 2026. This follows a 2.7% decline recorded for the week ending July 10, marking a return to positive territory after two weeks.
Breaking down the components, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index climbed 6% from the prior week, while the Refinance Index fell 2%. The refinance share of total applications declined to 41.2% from 43.2% the previous week, and the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share rose to 7.7%.
MBA's SVP Mike Fratantoni noted that the 30-year conforming mortgage rate reached 6.69%, its highest level since August 2025. He attributed the modest gain in purchase volume partly to growing home inventory in many markets, while cautioning that a renewed spike in oil prices could keep mortgage rates elevated despite the June inflation improvement.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on July 15, 2026, that its Market Composite Index—a seasonally adjusted measure of mortgage loan application volume—fell 2.7% week-over-week for the week ending July 10, 2026. This follows a 2.2% decline in the prior week ending July 3, marking two consecutive weeks of decreases. The latest results incorporate a seasonal adjustment for the Fourth of July holiday.
MBA Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan attributed the drop to the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 6.65%, described as the highest level since August 2025. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index declined 7% from the prior week, with purchase activity slipping below year-ago levels in the week following the Independence Day holiday.
In contrast, the Refinance Index rose 4% from the previous week and stood 7% above the same week one year ago. FHA and VA refinance applications led the rebound, climbing 9% and 10%, respectively. The refinance share of total applications increased to 43.2% from 40.6% the prior week.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on July 8, 2026 that mortgage applications fell 2.2% for the week ending July 3, 2026, reversing the prior week's marginal gain of 0.04% for the week ending June 26. The results include an adjustment for the Fourth of July holiday.
By component, the Refinance Index declined 4% from the previous week, while the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index fell 1%. The average contract interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgages edged up one basis point to 6.58%.
MBA SVP and Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni noted that government purchase volume rose modestly, led by a 5% gain in VA purchase applications, while conventional purchase activity declined. He added that refinance volume was also down, as homeowners found little incentive to act with rates remaining elevated. The refinance share of total applications slipped to 40.6% from 41.4%, while the VA share edged up to 13.0% from 12.9%.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on August 5, 2026, that its Market Composite Index—a seasonally adjusted measure of mortgage loan application volume—fell 2.9% from one week earlier for the week ending July 31. This follows a 1.9% increase recorded for the week ending July 17, marking a reversal after the prior week's gain.
Breaking down the components, the Refinance Index declined 2% week over week and was 9% below the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dropped 4% from the previous week, with the unadjusted Purchase Index also down 4% week over week and 3% lower than the same week last year. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of total applications fell to 7.9%, while the FHA share edged up to 17.3% from 16.9% the prior week.
The MBA attributed the decline to a rise in longer-term interest rates following the July FOMC meeting, which pushed the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to its highest level in more than a year. The association noted that application volume for both refinance and purchase loans was running below last year's pace, indicating that elevated mortgage rates have weighed on overall demand.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on July 1 that its Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage application volume, edged up 0.04% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ending June 26, 2026. The prior week's results had included an adjustment for the Juneteenth holiday.
Within the survey, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index rose 1% from a week earlier, while the Refinance Index slipped 1%. Refinance activity was still 9% higher than the same week one year ago.
The average contract rate on 30-year fixed mortgages with conforming balances declined to 6.57% from 6.59%. The refinance share of total applications was 41.4%.