Refinance Activity, Mortgage Rates and Effective Rate The Refinance Index increased 17.1 percent from the previous week and was the highest Refinance Index observed in the survey since the week ending May 15, 2009. … The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 81.4 percent of total applications from 78.1 percent the previous week, which [...]

US mortgage applications rise but rush is to refinance rather than buy homes WASHINGTON – Applications for home loans in the United States rose last week as consumers raced to refinance at the lowest rates in decades. The Mortgage Bankers Associations said Wednesday that overall applications increased nearly seven per cent from a week earlier. [...]