Mortgage Purchase Application Activity Brisk

Driven by falling interest rates, mortgage application activity was brisk in the April 8 week both for home purchases, up 8.0 percent, and refinancing, up 11.0 percent from the previous week. Purchase applications are up a striking 24 percent from this time last year, attaining the second highest level since May 2010. Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level since January 2015, with the average 30-year fixed rate for conforming mortgages ($417,000 or less) down 4 basis points from the prior week at 3.82 percent.