Nearly 10% of borrowers opted for riskier mortgages last week, as rates soared over 7%

Mortgage rates soared to the highest level since 2024 last week, causing loan demand to fall back again and more borrowers to opt for riskier loans. Total application volume decreased 1.5% from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $832,750 or less, increased to 7.12% from 6.97%, with points increasing to 0.73 from 0.72, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment. Applications to refinance a home loan dropped 3% for the week and were 62% lower than the same week one year ago. That was the lowest level since February 2025.