Mortgage Applications Plunges?

Just a slight trend higher in interest rates was enough to stall both potential home buyers and borrowers looking to refinance their loans.

Total mortgage application volume fell 7.2 percent last week from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The weekly index is now at its lowest level since December of 2000.

"Although the weekly increase in rates was small, they were trending up in the week following Labor Day, with many data reports showing a pickup in the pace of economic growth," said Michael Fratantoni, chief economist for the MBA.


written by Diana Olick,CNBC