HARP Activity Increasing Even as Refinancing Contracts

``The government's Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is starting to take hold in the  applications figures.  According to Michael Fratantoni, MBA's Vice President of Research and Economics, more than 20 percent of refinance applications last week were for HARP loans. "The HARP share of total refinance applications has increased over the past month," he said, and "purchase application volume increased over the week, but remains within the narrow and anemic range of activity we have seen since the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit in May 2010."''