Meanwhile, Wall Street’s political contributions have swung back to the right again, as Washington has started looking to increase financial regulation. And The New York Times reports hedge-fund manager Paul Singer is just one reason why the tide has shifted.

About a quarter of all US homeowners who refinanced their mortgage during the first half of the year moved into 15-year fixed mortgages, The Wall Street Journal reported. For all of 2009, about 18.5% of refinacings became 15-year fixed and it may not behoove all homeowners to shorten a mortgage’s length to secure a lower interest rate, according to the WSJ.

The Obama administration effort, known as Home Affordable Refinance Program, had been scheduled to end on June 10 but will now run out on June 30, 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday.The program allows borrowers who owe up to 25% more than their homes are worth to refinance to lower interest rates.It was originally projected to help 4 million to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So far, it has helped around 220,000, according to the Treasury Department.

Let me know if you are interested in refinancing and I can get you to a qualified lender who can help with this.sr