Mortgage applications decline in August compared with the same month last year, with first-homebuyer requests dropping more steeply. One report says total mortgage applications are down 14% in August versus August 2025, while applications from first-time buyers fall 20.1%.
Both outlets link the weaker activity to ongoing softness in the property market. One characterizes the decline as particularly pronounced among first-time homebuyers and younger applicants, suggesting the segment is being hit more than the broader market. The reports do not provide additional breakdowns beyond the first-homebuyer change and do not cite specific drivers such as interest rates, lending standards, or policy changes. Overall, they portray August figures as a continuation of subdued conditions in housing finance, with first-time buyers showing the largest year-on-year drop.
