Weekly mortgage demand from homebuyers increased despite big interest rate volatility

A prospective buyer and a real estate agent look through a window in a bedroom during an open house at a home in Seattle, Washington, US, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.Much like the news from the ongoing war in Iran, interest rates have been all over the map. That caused a split in demand for mortgages last week, with refinancing coming down and homebuyer demand rising with the kickoff of the spring market.Total mortgage application volume rose 3.2% for the week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's s ...