According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell again last week. Rates were down across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, 15-year fixed-rate loans, and 5/1 ARMs. Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, says rates are now at a four-month low. “Mortgage rates declined last week with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage falling to … the lowest level since August 2023,” Kan said. “Slower inflation and financial markets anticipating the potential end of the Fed’s hiking cycle are both behind the recent decline in rates.” Lower rates have boosted demand for mortgage applications, with the MBA’s Market Composite Index – which measures both purchase and refinance activity – up 2.8 percent from the week before. The MBA’s survey has been conducted weekly since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. (source)