Mortgage Applications Fall to Lowest Level in Six Years 

Mortgage applications headed downward again last week, reaching levels not seen since 2002 as refinance volume continues to shrink and purchase applications remain at historically low levels. The Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday morning that its weekly survey of applications found a 1.5 percent decrease in its composite application index, to 419.3 for the week ended Aug. 15. That total was off 34.2 percent compared to year-ago application volume.