|
THIS WEEK
Mortgage Market Update — October 16
Rates shifted again this week, and small moves can make a real difference on your payment. Here's what it means for you.
|
RATE SNAPSHOT · October 16, 2026
|
CONVENTIONAL 30-YR
7.40% 30-day Range: 7.14%–7.58%
|
CONVENTIONAL 15-YR
6.81% 30-day Range: 6.38%–6.93%
|
FHA 30-YR
7.25% 30-day Range: 6.89%–7.33%
|
VA 30-YR
7.05% 30-day Range: 6.81%–7.25%
|
Source: Optimal Blue daily mortgage indices via FRED · Includes our pricing adjustment · Informational only
|
|
Rate Watch
What This Week's Rate Movement Means for Your Payment
Mortgage rates move a little almost every week, and small shifts add up to real dollars on your monthly payment. On a typical loan, even a quarter-point change can mean $50 or more a month — money that's better in your pocket. The good news: you don't have to time the market perfectly. What matters most is being ready, with your credit in good shape and your documents handy, so when a window opens we can move quickly. If you bought or refinanced in the last couple of years, it's worth a five-minute check to see whether today's rates could lower your payment. There's no obligation and no cost to run the numbers — just clarity on where you stand. Want to see what today's rates mean for your payment? Let's run the numbers together.
|
|
Tip of the Week
Your loan officer can run a credit simulator to show exactly which actions will move your score the most.
|
|
Tips for Homeowners
Year-End Tax & Mortgage Planning
|
|
1.
|
Consider making your January mortgage payment in December to get an extra month of deductible interest in the current tax year (consult your tax advisor first).
|
|
2.
|
If you plan to sell next year, now is a good time to document improvements — receipts and records add to your cost basis and reduce taxable capital gain at sale.
|
|
3.
|
Review your W-4 withholding if you bought a home this year — your mortgage interest deduction may mean you're having too much withheld from each paycheck.
|
|
Have questions about how any of this affects your mortgage or home purchase? We're here to help — reach out to the Rhett Laufenburger team any time and we'll walk you through your options.
|