New England’s mortgage activity last year surged to its highest level in five years, the Boston Herald reports.

Massachusetts paved the way with the strongest mortgage activity levels, while Connecticut and Rhode Island followed closely behind. 

In Massachusetts, total residential mortgage activity increased nearly 38% to 332,582 originations last year. Purchase mortgages alone jumped more than 25%, the reports states.

Mortgage activity increased more than 26% in Connecticut and 29% in Rhode Island last year.