Fewer prospective borrowers applied for mortgages last week, driving a national index to its lowest point in at least a year.

Recently, house sales in North County have boomed as prices dipped to 2003 levels or below. Because mortgage applications precede closed sales by 30 to 45 days, Wednesday's report by the Mortgage Bankers Association suggested that it might be a tough winter to sell a house.

However, sales locally have exceeded the national rate as prices have dropped twice as much as the national average.

The national rate of mortgage applications fell 6 percent last week, bringing a four-week moving average to its lowest point this year. In contrast, the refinance index increased, meaning most of the drop came from fewer interested home buyers.

The association also reported that the average mortgage rate ticked down from 6.24 percent to 6.16 percent last week.