U.S. mortgage applications held steady last week even as interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate home loans edged up to their highest level in four years, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.

The Washington-based industry group said its index on filings to lenders and banks to buy a home and to refinance an existing one was up 0.3 percent to 384.1 in the week ended March 2.

The Refinance Index increased 2 percent from the previous week. 

The refinance share of mortgage activity remained unchanged from the previous week at 41.8 percent of total applications.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($453,100 or less) increased to its highest level since January 2014, 4.65 percent, from 4.64 percent.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to its highest level since April 2011, 4.11 percent, from 4.07 percent.