The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on Wednesday the mortgage application volume in the U.S. fell 0.1 percent in the week ended September 13, following a 2.0 percent advance in the previous week.

According to the report, applications to purchase a home rose 6 percent, while refinance applications fell 4 percent.

Meanwhile, the average fixed 30-year mortgage rate increased to 4.01 percent from 3.82 percent.

“New home purchase activity was robust in August, as both mortgage applications and estimated home sales increased from a year ago,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting. “Recent increases in new residential housing permits and housing starts, lower mortgage rates, and a still-strong job market all bode well for the new home sales outlook.”