The Refinance Index increased 6.9 percent to 1474.9 from 1379.3 the previous week and the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 1.7 percent to 359.7 from 365.8 one week earlier.  The Conventional Purchase Index increased 1.4 percent while the Government Purchase Index (largely FHA) decreased 8.2 percent.
 
The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is up 0.7 percent to 493.7 from 490.2. The four week moving average for the Purchase Index edged up to 350.5 from 350.4, while this average is up 1.8 percent to 1333.9 from 1309.8 for the Refinance Index.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 39.2 percent of total applications from 37.3 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 9.1 from 10.0 percent of total applications from the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 6.22 percent from 6.43 percent, with points increasing to 1.21 from 1.06 (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 5.74 percent from 5.94 percent, with points increasing to 1.13 from 1.10 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs decreased to 7.16 percent from 7.24 percent, with points increasing to 0.36 from 0.26 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.

**SPECIAL NOTES**

The survey covers approximately 50 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, 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 370,000 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 2,400 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.