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Mortgage application activity continued to move higher last week, though the pace slowed considerably as financial markets turned volatile and mortgage rates moved back up from their recent lows. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported an increase of 3.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending March 6. This week it was purchase demand doing the heavy lifting. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 7.8% from one week earlier and was 11% higher than the same week one year ago. MBA noted that purchase activity continues to track ahead of last year’s pace as improving inventory levels support more transactions. Refinance activity was largely flat by comparison. The Refinance Index edged just 0.5% higher from the previous week but still remained 81% higher than the same week one year ago. According to MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni, markets were unsettled by geopolitical developments during the week, pushing longer-term interest rates higher. The average 30-year conforming mortgage rate rose back above 6% after briefly dipping below that threshold in recent weeks. The composition of activity shifted slightly away from refinances. The refinance share of total applications decreased to 57.8% from 59.8% the prior week, while ARM share increased to 8.9% . FHA share rose to 17.1% , VA share declined to 16.1% , and USDA share remained unchanged at 0.4% .

Existing-home sales rebounded modestly in February, recovering some ground after January’s sharp pullback, while improving affordability and slowly expanding inventory helped support buyer activity.Sales rose 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million .  “Housing affordability is improving, and consumers are responding,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. The group’s Housing Affordability Index rose to 117.6 in February, the highest reading since March 2022 and the eighth consecutive monthly improvement. Yun noted that wage growth is now outpacing home-price growth by nearly four percentage points, while mortgage rates are also lower than a year ago. Inventory continued to expand, though at a measured pace. Total housing inventory increased to 1.29 million units , up 2.4% from January and 4.9% higher than a year earlier. That equates to a 3.8-month supply of homes at the current sales pace. Price growth remained subdued but positive. The median existing-home price for all housing types rose to $398,000 , a modest 0.3% increase from a year ago and the 32nd consecutive month of annual gains. Regional Breakdown (Sales and Prices, February 2026) Region Sales (annual rate) MoM Change Median Price YoY Change Northeast 470k -6.0% $479,800 +3.3% Midwest 940k +1.1% $302,100 +2.3% South 1.89m +1.6% $356,800 +0.2% West 790k +8.2% $603,100 -1.9%

Mortgage application activity surged last week in response to headlines of mortgage rates stably holding multi-year lows. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported an increase of 11.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending February 27. Refi applications once again led the charge, jumping 14.3% from the previous week and 109% higher vs the same week one year ago. Conventional refi apps rose 20% for the week, marking the fourth consecutive weekly increase and the strongest pace since 2022. Purchase demand also strengthened. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 6.1% from one week earlier and was 10% higher than the same week one year ago. Lower rates and a gradual improvement in housing inventory continue to support buyer activity as the spring market approaches. The composition of activity shifted further toward refinances. The refinance share of total applications increased to 59.8% from 58.6% the prior week, while ARM share rose to 8.8% . FHA share decreased to 15.8% , VA share declined to 17.1% , and USDA share remained unchanged at 0.4% . Notably, the present week has seen a significant shift in rates with the average lender jumping back to early February levels.  [thirtyyearmortgagerates]