(by G. Andersen)

Applications for U.S. mortgages rose last week for the first time in three weeks as most mortgage interest rates increased, according to Reuters.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted market index, moved slightly higher for the week ending July 23 by 0.6% to 621.4 from the previous week’s 617.9.

"The purchase market continues very strong, in line with the numbers we have seen for new home and existing home sales," Jay Brinkmann, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said in a statement.

In June, previously owned homes sold at a record annualized rate of 6.95 million units, and their median price hit an all-time high of $191,800, the National Association of Realtors reported on Monday.

Sales of new homes fell in June but at a slower-than-expected annualized pace of 1.326 million units, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday.