(Wall Street Journal) — Mortgage rates, after hitting record lows this summer, are rising. But the rates are still tantalizing for borrowers looking to refinance out of an onerous loan. For the week ended Dec. 9, the average rate for 30-year fixed loans was 4.46%, according to Freddie Mac, up from 4.17% in early November Yet refinancing activity has continued to slump from its summer highs, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Why aren’t more borrowers jumping on the refinance bandwagon? Some are discovering that relatively tiny medical debts—even mistaken ones—can damage their credit scores, making refinancing less attractive. (See “Hidden Medical Debt Trips Up Homeowners,” Dec. 11.) For other homeowners looking to refinance, reduced credit limits are impeding their path.
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