Mortgage rates rose last week for the fourth time in five weeks, causing another pullback in refinancing. Total mortgage application volume was essentially flat, falling 0.1% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Government refinances accounted for a large part of the decrease, dropping 12 percent over last week," wrote Joel Kan, an MBA economist, in a release. Real estate brokerages have reported a surge in interest from homebuyers recently, as the supply of homes for sale has increased. Mortgage rates moved higher to start this week.

---

Persons: Government refinances, Joel Kan, brokerages, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Mortgage News Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, refinances, Government