On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Optimal Blue released its rate indices showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) at 6.74 percent. The 30-day range was 6.63 percent to 6.74 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.04 percent.
The 30-day range was 5.91 percent to 6.04 percent. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), mortgage applications increased 0.8 percent from one week earlier. The Refinance Index decreased 1 percent from one week ago and was 19 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.3 percent compared with the previous week and was 0.2 percent lower than the same week one year ago.
“Mortgage rates reached their highest levels in four weeks as investors’ concerns about inflation and growing deficits push yields higher across the globe,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and Chief Economist. “Refinance volume dropped in response, but purchase volume increased modestly over the week and was slightly below last year’s level. In many local markets, potential buyers have plenty of homes to choose, and this is likely supporting transaction volume. Another trend we’re monitoring is more borrowers choosing ARMs, with the ARM share back to 8 percent last week, its highest level in five weeks.”
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According to MBA’s Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), mortgage application payments decreased to $2,175 in July from $2,191 in June.
“Homebuyer affordability improved in July, as a decline in the median loan amount offset a modest increase in mortgage rates, bringing the typical mortgage payment down to $2,175. Affordability also improved on an annual basis, as earnings growth continued to outpace the increase in mortgage payments,” said Edward Seiler, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Housing Economics and Executive Director of the Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA). “Looking ahead, we expect affordability conditions to remain closely tied to the path of mortgage rates and home-price growth. Mortgage rates have increased in recent weeks, but any sustained reversal, combined with moderating home-price growth and rising inventory, would provide additional relief for prospective buyers through the remainder of 2026.”
Additional mortgage activity
- The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 41.8 percent of total applications from 42 percent the previous week.
- The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 8 percent of total applications.
- The FHA share of total applications decreased to 15.9 percent from 16.2 percent the week prior.
- The VA share of total applications increased to 13.6 percent from 12.8 percent the week prior.
- The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.5 percent from the week prior.
This week in mortgage rates
Rates move up. Here’s how average fixed rates broke down:
30-year fixed-rate loans: 6.74 percent (up from 6.65 percent)
15-year fixed-rate loans: 6.04 percent (up from 5.98 percent)
Check back next week for the most up-to-date mortgage and housing news.
August 19- Mortgage Rates and Applications Change Little
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Optimal Blue released its rate indices showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) at 6.67 percent. The 30-day range was 6.62 percent to 6.71 percent.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 5.95 percent. The 30-day range was 5.91 percent to 6.11 percent.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), mortgage applications decreased 0.4 percent from one week earlier. The Refinance Index increased 2 percent from one week ago and was 18 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 3 percent compared with the previous week and was 3 percent lower than the same week one year ago.
“Mortgage rates and applications changed little last week, with just a slight increase in refinances for Conventional and VA loans, while FHA refinances were lower,” said Joel Kan, CMB, MBA’s VP and Deputy Chief Economist. “Borrowers with larger loan sizes remain less likely to refinance with rates at these higher levels. The average loan size on refinances continues to shrink, dipping to $282,200 last week, the lowest level since June 2025.”
Added Kan, “Purchase applications decreased and were also lower than last year’s pace. In addition to the economic uncertainty, affordability difficulties have reemerged as a reason for homebuyers to delay purchase decisions given the impact of higher mortgage rates on monthly mortgage payments.”
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MBA’s Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for July 2026 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased 5.7 percent from a year ago. Compared with June 2026, applications decreased by 1 percent.
“Purchase activity for newly built homes slowed in July, with both applications to purchase and the estimated number of new home sales falling behind last year’s pace,” said MBA’s Kan. “With new-home inventory still elevated, weaker demand likely reflects increased homebuyer sensitivity to higher mortgage rates. The annualized sales pace decreased for the third time in four months and at 647,000 units, fell below the average sales pace of 664,000 units during the first six months of the year.”
Additional mortgage activity
- The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41.9 percent of total applications from 40.7 percent the previous week.
- The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 7.7 percent of total applications.
- The FHA share of total applications decreased to 17.1 percent from 17.3 percent the week prior.
- The VA share of total applications increased to 12.6 percent from 12.3 percent the week prior.
- The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.5 percent from the week prior.
This week in mortgage rates
Rates continue to hover. Here’s how average fixed rates broke down:
30-year fixed-rate loans: 6.67 percent (up from 6.65 percent)
15-year fixed-rate loans: 5.95 percent (down from 5.99 percent)
Check back next week for the most up-to-date mortgage and housing news.
August 13 - 30-Year Fixed Rate Drops Slightly and Applications Increase
On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Optimal Blue released its rate indices showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) at 6.65 percent. The 30-day range was 6.53 percent to 6.71 percent.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 5.99 percent. The 30-day range was 5.88 percent to 6.11 percent.
“Mortgage rates remained relatively stable this week at 6.67%,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's Chief Economist. “Housing affordability has improved from a year ago, and recent increases in purchase and refinance applications suggest that borrowers continue to respond to even modest changes in mortgage rates.”
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), mortgage applications increased 3.6 percent from one week earlier. The Refinance Index increased 5 percent from one week ago and was 22 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 1 percent lower than the same week one year ago.
“After five consecutive weeks of increases, mortgage rates declined slightly last week as oil prices dipped briefly on the hopes of a sustained resolution to the war in Iran. The 30-year fixed rate decreased four basis points but remained close to its highest level in a year at 6.77 percent,” said Joel Kan, CMB, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “The reprieve in rates supported an increase in both purchase and refinance applications over the week, although the pace of applications has fallen below last year’s pace in recent weeks. As refinance incentives have dwindled with rates at current levels, the average loan size for refinance applications was down to its lowest level since July 2025.”
More housing and market news
According to the MBA, mortgage delinquencies on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.37 percent in the second quarter of 2026. “Mortgage delinquencies decreased slightly across all loan types in the second quarter of 2026. Nonetheless, the broader trend is that both delinquencies and foreclosures have increased over the past year,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis.
According to MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), mortgage credit availability increased by 2.5 percent to 108.4 in July. “Credit availability in June increased to its highest level since July 2022, as greater availability and expanded guidelines for ARM and streamline refinance loans, including some with lower documentation requirements, drove most of the increase,” said MBA’s Kan. “Jumbo credit availability has grown in almost every month this year and this month’s increase brought the Jumbo index to its highest level since 2020. Additionally, non-QM loan programs continue to account for a substantial share of this growth.”
In reaction to the July jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kan said, “The weaker July employment data might provide a little breathing room for the Federal Reserve as it considers its next policy move, but inflationary pressures are expected to persist through the remainder of 2026 with no clear end in sight for the war in Iran. We anticipate that the Federal Reserve will raise the fed funds rate in early 2027, but any additional upside surprises to inflation are likely to bring that timetable forward.”
Additional mortgage activity
- The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 40.7 percent of total applications from 39.9 percent the previous week.
- The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity remained unchanged at 7.9 percent of total applications.
- The FHA share of total applications remained unchanged at 17.3 percent from the week prior.
- The VA share of total applications remained unchanged at 12.3 percent from the week prior.
- The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.5 percent from the week prior.
This week in mortgage rates
Rates barely move. Here’s how average fixed rates broke down:
30-year fixed-rate loans: 6.65 percent (down from 6.67 percent)
15-year fixed-rate loans: 5.99 percent (up from 5.98 percent)
Check back next week for the most up-to-date mortgage and housing news.
