The US average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages on conforming loans of $806,500 or less fell to 6.25% in the week ending January 2, the lowest level since September 2024, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). This marks a decline from 6.32% the previous week ending December 26, equivalent to a decrease in points from 0.59 to 0.57, including the origination fee, for borrowers making a 20% down payment. Despite the lower rates, mortgage applications have dropped 9.7% over the past two weeks, leaving the index at its lowest level in nearly five months.
