The Refinance Index increased 4.9 percent to 2115.2 from 2015.8 the previous week and the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2.6 percent to 438.3 from 427.3 one week earlier. The seasonally adjusted Conventional Index increased 3.2 percent to 1003.1 from 972.3 the previous week, and the seasonally adjusted Government Index increased 8.6 percent to 143.2 from 131.8 the previous week.

The large jump in the Government Loan Applications Index, which is primarily composed of FHA loans, puts it at its highest level in almost two years, or since July 1, 2005.
 
The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is up 1.3 percent to 655.4 from 646.9.  The four week moving average is up 1.5 percent to 418.3 from 412.2 for the Purchase Index, while this average is up 1.2 percent to 2055.2 from 2030.2 for the Refinance Index.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 41.8 percent of total applications from 41.5 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 18 from 17.9 percent of total applications from the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 6.1 percent from 6.14 percent, with points increasing to 1.48 from 1.31 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 5.82 from 5.83 percent, with points unchanged at 1.25 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs decreased to 5.71 from 5.79 percent, with points unchanged at 0.73 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

**SPECIAL NOTES**

The survey covers approximately 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage originations, and has been conducted weekly since 1990.  Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts.  Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.

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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the real estate finance industry, an industry that employs more than 280,000 people in virtually every community in the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association works to ensure the continued strength of the nation's residential and commercial real estate markets; to expand homeownership and extend access to affordable housing to all Americans. MBA promotes fair and ethical lending practices and fosters professional excellence among real estate finance employees through a wide range of educational programs and a variety of publications. Its membership of over 2,200 companies includes all elements of real estate finance: mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, thrifts, Wall Street conduits, life insurance companies and others in the mortgage lending field. For additional information, visit MBA's Web site:  www.mortgagebankers.org.