According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell last week, reaching its lowest level since November 2013. It was the second consecutive week of decreases after ending 2013 on an upward swing. The drop led to a 10 percent increase in the Refinance Index and a 4.7 percent gain in overall mortgage loan application volume. The refinance share of total mortgage activity was at its highest level in a month, improving to 64 percent from 62 percent the month before. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index, on the other hand, decreased 4 percent from one week early and was 15 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The MBA’s survey covers 75 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications and has been conducted weekly since 1990. More here.