Mortgage applications decreased 3.9 percent in the week ending Dec. 24, then rose 2.3 percent for the week ending Dec. 31, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Both weeks’ results include an adjustment to account for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. On an unadjusted basis, mortgage applications decreased 23.7 percent the week before Christmas and 10 percent the week after. For the week ending Dec. 24, the refinance index decreased 7.2 percent from the previous week and the seasonally adjusted purchase index increased 3.1 percent from one week earlier. The following week, the refinance Index increased 3.9 percent and the purchase index decreased .8 percent. TRD