30-Year Fixed Rate Loans Less Popular With Refinancing Homeowners

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When you refinance your 30-year fixed rate mortgage, into which product will you refinance? If you're like a lot of U.S. homeowners, you'll choose a shorter-term loan.

30-year fixed rate mortgages are less popular these days.

Fewer Opt For 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage

According to Freddie Mac, as mortgage rates have dropped this year, so have loan terms.

Between April-June 2011, of all the Freddie Mac-to-Freddie Mac refinances, 37% of homeowners who started with a 30-year fixed transitioned into 15-year or 20-year fixed rate loans. It's the 30-year fixed fastest abandonment rate since 2003.

There's no surprise about why it's happening, either.

Last quarter, the gap between 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate and the rest of the loan market got wide. The spread between the 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed, for example, averaged 80 basis points.That's the widest gap in recorded history.

15-year mortgages are "on sale" and homeowners are taking advantage of it.

Click here for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage quote.

Comparing Payments : 30-Year, 20-Year, 15-Year Fixed

For budget-conscious homeowners, there are positives and negatives about changing from a 30-year fixed rate mortgage to something shorter, such as a 20-year fixed or 15-year fixed.

The most obvious positive is that with shorter terms come lower mortgage rates. 15-year fixed rate mortgages carry lower interest costs than comparable 20-year or 30-year fixed rate loans.

The big negative, though, is that with shorter terms come higher monthly payments. Because you're compressing the loan payback schedule into a smaller time frame, the paybacks are larger each month.

At today's rates, the payment on a 15-year fixed is 46% higher than a similar 30-year.

The good news, though, is that over the long-term, you'll save a ton of money. Assuming a $300,000 loan size at today's rates, homeowners using a 15-year fixed rate mortgage will save $155 thousand in interest costs.

Get A Mortgage Rate Quote For Your Loan

No matter what your current mortgage looks like, it's a good time to get a rate quote. Mortgage rates are low and closing costs can be waived. Make sure you ask your lender.

Click here to get a rate quote. Join the Refi Boom before it's gone.