Even through the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) increased to its highest level since April 2014, mortgage application volume increased 3.1% during the week ended March 10, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.
Applications for refinances increased 4%, while applications for purchases increased 2%, according to the weekly report.
On an unadjusted basis, total volume increased 4% compared with the previous week. Applications for purchases increased 3% on an unadjusted basis and increased 6% compared with the same week one year earlier.
The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 45.6% of total applications – up from 45.4% the previous week.
The average rate for a 30-year FRM was 4.46%, up from 4.36% the previous week.
The average rate for a 30-year jumbo FRM was 4.44%, up from 4.27%.
The average rate for a 30-year FRM backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was 4.29%, up from 4.18%.
The average rate for a 15-year FRM was 3.66%, up from 3.57%.
The average rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) was 3.45%, down from 3.48%.
The ARM share of activity increased to 8.2% of total applications – the highest level since October 2014.