Mortgage activity down -- rates, too

The Mortgage Bankers Association said U.S. mortgage activity fell 1.3 percent in the week ended Friday with interest rates setting record lows. The trade group's Refinancing Index also fell slightly, declining by 1.5 percent, the MBA said. Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgages fell from 3.93 percent to 3.91 percent with average points rising from 0.39 to 0.46. That is the lowest rate in the history of the survey, the MBA said. Also dropping to a record low, rates for 15-year, fixed-rate contracts fell from 3.26 percent to 3.23 percent. Points for 15-year loans fell from 0.42 to 0.39.