Mortgage applications numbers are getting stronger each week as homebuyers rush back into the market, hoping to get their hands on what few homes there are for sale. Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 5% for the week and were a stunning 18% higher than a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of up to $510,400 decreased to