The mortgage market seemed to be in a wait-and-see mode last week as the Federal Reserve signaled a might, maybe, we are thinking about it, approach to a September rate cut. In the interim, most interest rates inched lower. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said its Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 0.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier and fell 1.0 percent on an unadjusted basis.   The Refinance Index dipped 0.1 percent from the previous week but has now climbed to an  85 percent lead over the same week one year ago. The refinance share of applications increased to 46.6 percent of the total, up from 46.3 percent the prior week. [refiappschart] The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 1.0 percent but was 1.0 percent lower before adjustment. Purchase applications were 9.0 percent lower than the same week one year ago. [purchaseappschart] “Mortgage rates declined for the fourth consecutive week, with the 30-year fixed rate at 6.44 percent, the lowest since April 2023. Rates have now come down more than 80 basis points from a year ago,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Mortgage applications were slightly higher, driven by marginally stronger purchase activity. Refinance applications were essentially unchanged but are still 85 percent higher than last year as borrowers continue to act – particularly FHA and VA borrowers. As observed in recent weeks, despite lower rates, purchase applications have not moved much. Prospective homebuyers are staying patient now that rates are moving lower and for-sale inventory has started to increase.”