The total mortgage loan application volume dipped 1.8% for the week ending October 9, according to a weekly survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The refinancing share of mortgage activity increased 67.4% of the total applications, up from 66.3% the previous week. The MBA, which also keeps an eye on mortgage rates, reported the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.02% from 4.89% a week ago. The average interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages grew to 4.44% from 4.32%. The amount of loan applications per household rose 12.6% for the week, according to a weekly survey from Mortgage Maxx, which adjusts raw application data to count multiple applications from within a single household as one participant in the application process. “With a four handle on long-term fixed rate mortgages and the visible end of the $8000 first time home buyers incentive, mortgage activity tacks against seasonal expectations,” according to publisher Paul Descloux. “With title needing to be transferred by December 1 to qualify for the credit, a winnowing of those buyers should be shortly evident.” Write to Jon Prior.