Mortgage Application Activity Up 3.1%

A growing number of borrowers were filling out mortgage applications during the week ending Aug. 1, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Market Composite Index, the MBA’s measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 3.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the index was up by an even 3%.

The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2% from one week earlier while the unadjusted index recorded a 1% uptick – the latter was also 18% higher than the same week one year ago.

The Refinance Index took a 5% week-over-week rise and was 18 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41.5% of total applications from 40.7% the previous week. Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, observed, “Refinance applications increased to their strongest pace in four weeks after being on a downward trend the prior three weeks. The refinance share increased to almost 42 percent, its highest level since April.”

Among the federal programs, the FHA share of total applications decreased to 18.5% from 18.8 percent the week prior while the VA share of total applications increased to 13.3% from 12.2% and the USDA share of total applications dipped to 0.5% from 0.6%.