The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its [Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey](http://www.mortgagebankers.org/news/2005/wk1221.asp) Their findings for the weekending December 16th were as follows:

* Purchase Index down 5.2% from prior week
* Refinance Index down 1.6% from prior week
* Refi Market Share was 41.7% up from 40.2% in prior week
* Average 30-year Fixed Mortgage Rate was 6.22% down from 6.28% in prior quarter


Mortgage rates have been generally trending down slightly since the second week in November which is expected to stimulate modest sales activity in early 2006.