HousingWireHousingWire
Mortgage applications decreased 1.2% from one week earlier, per data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 23, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 2% compared with the previous week.
The refinance index decreased 7% from the previous week, but remained 37% higher than the same week one year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 34.6% of total applications from 36.6% the previous week.
Amid all of the decreases, the seasonally adjusted purchase index saw an increase of 3% from one week earlier. The unadjusted purchase index increased 2% compared with the previous week and was 18% higher than the same week one year ago.
“Mortgage rates reached its highest level since January, following higher Treasury yields. Additional market volatility has added to the increase, keeping the mortgage-Treasury spread wider than it was earlier this year. The 30-year fixed rate increased to 6.98%, its third consecutive weekly increase,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist. “As a result of these higher rates, applications activity decreased, driven by a 7% decline in refinance applications. Conventional refinances were down 6%, and VA refinances dropped 16%.”
Kan continued, “Purchase applications were up over the week and continue to run ahead of last year’s pace as increased housing inventory in many markets has been supporting some transaction volume, despite the economic uncertainty.”
The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 7.5% of total applications. The FHA share of total applications remained unchanged at 17.9% from the week prior. The VA share of total applications decreased to 12.3% from 12.6% the week prior, while the USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.5%.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances increased to 6.98% from 6.92%. Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances decreased to 6.93% from 6.94%.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA increased to 6.66% from 6.60%. The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.23% from 6.21%. Lastly, the average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 6.22% from 6.16%.
