Mortgage interest rates rose last week for the third straight week, hitting the highest level since August.
Total mortgage application volume fell 17% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index.
Refinance demand, which is most sensitive to weekly rate moves, fell the hardest, down 26% week-to-week.
Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home fell 7% for the week but were 7% higher than the same week one year ago.
The recent rise in mortgage rates may have slowed the resurgence in refinancing, but homebuyers may be less concerned about interest rates today and more concerned about the shape of the economy in the coming months.
Persons:
Joel Kan
Organizations:
Mortgage