Refinances surge nearly 70% as purchase activity falls 10% in August

- Seasonal slowdown weighs on purchases; lenders lean on securitization and non-QM to drive performance -

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 10, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Optimal Blue today released its August 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found a sharp split between purchase and refinance trends as seasonal factors and falling rates reshaped origination activity. Total lock volume dipped about 2% month over month (MoM) as a roughly 10% drop in purchase locks outweighed the strongest month for rate-and-term refinances this year, which surged nearly 70%. Non-QM lending also reached a new milestone in August, climbing to a record 8.3% of originations – up from 5.6% a year earlier and just 1.4% in August 2020 – extending the steady growth trend first highlighted in last month’s rep