Low interest rates cause a shift to shorter term loans. More homeowners are choosing to pay down their mortgages faster, even if it means a substantial jump in their monthly payments. From January to June, 26% of homeowners who refinanced chose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to data from CoreLogic, a provider of financial, property and consumer information. In 2009, 18.5% of borrowers who refinanced opted for a 15-year term. About 9.4% did so in 2007. Rates continue to be at all time lows