According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for mortgage loans increased 7.1 percent last week. The Refinance Index rose 7.8 percent, as 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 4.45 percent from 4.57 percent the previous week. Interest rates are at their lowest levels since November 2010. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said rates on 15-year mortgages reached a new low for the survey, which began in 1990. Purchase activity also rose, increasing 5.1 percent from the week before. The unadjusted Purchase Index was 5.9 percent higher than it was the same week one year ago. More here.