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The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Refinance Rates on December 17, 2024: What the “Rates Move Up” Headline Can—and Can’t—Tell You

The Dec. 17, 2024 refinance-rate headline reported an increase, but no exact daily figures are verified. Nearby purchase rates and market averages are not refinance quotes.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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The December 17, 2024 headline said refinance rates moved up, but the exact refinance-rate figures behind it could not be verified. Nearby purchase-rate data and broader weekly or monthly averages are not substitutes for that missing daily refinance table. This is a historical rate update, not a current offer.

What is known about the December 17 refinance-rate update?

The headline identifies an upward move, but the precise December 17 refinance products, rates, and daily changes are not established. A separate The Mortgage Reports rate table dated December 17 covered purchase mortgages, not refinance offers. Its figures cannot be used to reconstruct the missing refinance table.

That purchase table also showed mixed daily movements: for example, its conventional 30-year fixed rate was 6.512% with a listed daily change of −0.01, while the FHA 30-year fixed rate was 6.639% with a listed change of +0.09. Those figures are specific to the table’s purchase products and partner-network methodology; they do not establish that every mortgage product rose or show what a refinancing borrower could obtain.

How do nearby market averages compare?

These figures put the date in context, but they measure different periods and are not December 17 refinance quotes.

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Measure Figure What it represents
30-year fixed 6.60% on December 12, 2024 Freddie Mac weekly survey figure reported by the Associated Press; down from 6.69% the prior week. AP report
15-year fixed 5.84% on December 12, 2024 Freddie Mac weekly survey figure reported by the Associated Press; down from 5.96% the prior week. AP report
30-year fixed 6.72% for December 2024 Monthly average cited by the Federal Housing Finance Agency in its January 2025 report, sourced to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. It is not a single-day quote. FHFA report

The Associated Press explains that mortgage rates are influenced by 10-year Treasury yields; the Federal Reserve does not directly set mortgage rates. A weekly survey average, a monthly average, a partner-network snapshot, and a lender’s offer to a particular borrower are different kinds of information.

Why can a refinance rate differ from a published rate?

A rate table is a dated snapshot tied to particular loan products, lenders, and borrower assumptions. A borrower’s actual offer may differ. Partner-network or advertised rates are not universal market prices, and published figures may not reflect an individual borrower’s circumstances.

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When comparing offers, distinguish the interest rate from the annual percentage rate (APR). APR incorporates fees and other costs as well as interest, so it can give a more complete basis for comparing offers. Methodologies also vary: for example, Bankrate describes using national averages, a weekly survey, and averages of advertised partner offers. Its live figures accessed in 2026 do not establish historical December 2024 rates. Bankrate’s refinance-rate methodology and rates

What to compare before refinancing

Use written offers for the same loan scenario rather than comparing a historical headline with a current quote. Review the details that determine both cost and fit:

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  • Product and rate structure: Compare the same product type and whether the rate is fixed or adjustable.
  • Term: Compare like-for-like repayment periods. A 15-year loan generally has higher monthly payments than a 30-year loan, but pays the balance off sooner.
  • Interest rate and APR: Check both, along with the fees and points included in each offer.
  • Monthly payment and total costs: Consider how the new payment and upfront costs fit your finances, not just the headline rate.
  • Expected time with the loan: Weigh the costs against how long you expect to keep the loan. Whether refinancing saves money depends on your actual fees and circumstances; calculate the break-even point rather than assuming a lower rate guarantees savings.
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What the December 2024 figures say about refinance activity

The FHFA’s January 2025 report says 56% of December 2024 refinances were cash-out refinances. That is a monthly share, not a December 17 rate or a measure of whether refinancing was financially beneficial for any particular borrower.

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