Submitted by CARPE DIEM

Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) — Mortgage applications in the U.S. jumped last week by the most in more than three years, led by a surge in refinancing as long-term interests rates dropped to two-year lows, according to this press release from the Mortgage Bankers Association (see chart above, 30-year fixed rates are the lowest since mid-October 2005).

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index of applications to buy a home or refinance a loan increased 22.5% to 791.8, the highest level since July 2005. Refinancing surged 32 percent and purchases rose 15 percent.

The biggest drop in 30-year fixed mortgage rates since 2003 may have convinced owners it was a good time to refinance, at a time when outstanding adjustable loans are resetting higher.

Bottom Line: Despite all of the gloom and doom we hear about the mortgage and credit markets (for example, see today’s front page WSJ article “U.S. Mortgage Crisis Rivals S&L Meltdown”), reality and the data paint a much brighter picture.

Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.