Americans are sprinting to refinance their mortgages as rates fall

Core Insights - Refinance applications surged by 58% last week and 70% compared to the same week last year, indicating strong demand among homeowners [2][4][8] - The increase in refinancing activity is driven by a significant drop in home borrowing costs, as the market anticipates a Federal Reserve rate cut [4][6] - The share of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) in refinancing activity rose to 12.9%, the highest level since 2008, reflecting a shift in borrower preferences [3][4] Mortgage Rates and Market Trends - The 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased by 15 basis points to approximately 6.35%, marking the largest weekly drop in a year [5][8] - The 10-year US Treasury yield fell to around 4.02%, down from a peak of 4.8% in early 2025, influencing mortgage rates [4][5] - Overall mortgage activity increased by 9.2% in the week ending September 5, suggesting a positive outlook for the US housing market [6][8] Industry Sentiment - The National Association of Home Builders indicated that the housing market may be nearing a turning point as rates decline ahead of the expected Fed decision [7]