Mortgage application volume edged up 1.7% on an adjusted basis during the week ended November 15, despite mortgage rates moving higher, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey.
Applications for refinances increased 2% from the previous week and were up 43% compared with the same week one year ago.
Applications for purchases also increased 2% compared with the previous week but were down 1% compared with a year ago.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with conforming loan balance was 6.90%, up from 6.86% the previous week.
“Mortgage rates moved higher for the fourth consecutive week, with the 30-year fixed rate increasing to 6.90 percent, its highest level since July 2024,” says Joel Kan, vice president and deputy chief economist for the MBA, in a statement. “However, even with the uptick in rates, overall mortgage applications increased.
“The pickup in purchase applications was driven by conventional and FHA loans, with FHA purchase applications seeing a 7 percent increase,” Kan says. “For-sale inventory has loosened in some markets and some potential buyers have been able to take advantage of increasing supply and lower FHA rates, which were down slightly in comparison to the conforming 30-year fixed rate. Refinance activity rose slightly last week, driven largely by a 10 percent increase in VA applications.”
The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41.0% of total applications, up from 39.9% the previous week.
The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 5.9% of total applications.
Photo: Annika Wischnewsky