01/22/2026
Mortgage application activity jumped last week, with the MBA reporting a 14.1% week-over-week increase as mortgage rates continued to trend lower. Refinance demand led the momentum, rising 20% from the prior week and an impressive 183% year over year, reaching its strongest level since September 2025. The average 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.16%, the lowest since September 2024, pushing refinances to nearly 62% of total application volume. Purchase activity also gained traction, up 5% week over week and almost 18% compared to last year, driven by increased conventional loan activity. Overall, easing rates are reinvigorating borrower interest and creating renewed opportunity across both refinance and purchase markets. Read more here: https://tr.ee/zB2QQ1.