Mortgage applications increased 7.9% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending April 17, 2026.

On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 9% compared with the previous week.

The refinance index increased 6% from the previous week and was 52% higher than the same week one year ago.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased 10% from one week earlier. The unadjusted purchase index increased 12% compared with the previous week and was 14% higher than the same week one year ago.

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“Mortgage rates declined last week as financial markets responded positively to the Middle East ceasefire and the lower trend in oil prices, with the 30-year fixed rate decreasing to 6.35%,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and chief economist. “Refinance application volume increased by 6%, while purchase application volume increased an even stronger 10% and was up 14% compared to last year’s pace. This increase was led by conventional purchase loans up 11% over the week.”

Fratantoni continued, “Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, housing demand is being supported by a still resilient job market, and homebuyers are experiencing a buyer’s market in most of the country, given the higher levels of inventory relative to last year.”

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 44.2% of total applications from 45.5% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 8.0% of total applications.

Both the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shares of total applications remained unchanged at 18.2% and 0.5% from the week prior, respectively. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) share of total applications, meanwhile, decreased to 15.0% from 15.7%.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances decreased to 6.35% from 6.42%, and the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances decreased to 6.43% from 6.48%.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 6.10% from 6.14%, while rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 5.75% from 5.85%. The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 5.48% from 5.63%.

Xactus Mortgage Intent Index

Xactus‘s Mortgage Intent Index — which analyzes aggregated, anonymized credit-pull activity across the Xactus Intelligent Verification Platform — increased to a reading of 146.0, a 3.99% jump week-over-week and 5.04% change year over year

“The market continues to show clear sensitivity to the interest rate environment. As rates eased this week, the Xactus Mortgage Intent Index increased approximately 4% week over week,” said Thomas Lloyd, Xactus’ chief strategy officer. Lloyd continued, “More significantly, the index is roughly ~5% higher than the same week last year, erasing four weeks of year-over-year decline.”