Heather Llanes · October 21, 2026

What equity have you built in your home?

Mortgage Market Update

Heather Llanes

Heather Llanes

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

What equity have you built in your home?

Hello, and welcome back to the newsletter. This week I want to talk about something that quietly works in your favor every single month.

National Mortgage Rates · October 20, 2026

Conventional 30-Year

7.33%

FHA 30-Year

7.13%

VA 30-Year

6.95%

Rate trend

Source: Optimal Blue daily mortgage indices via FRED

Rates shown are national mortgage index rates and are provided for informational purposes only. Actual rates vary based on credit profile, loan amount, and market conditions. Please contact us for a personalized rate quote.


Equity Building

Your mortgage payments are building wealth

Every payment you make toward your mortgage is money that stays in your pocket as equity—the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe. Over time, this adds up. That equity can become a financial cushion you tap into later for major expenses, education, or opportunities. The sooner you understand how much equity you might have built, the sooner you can think strategically about your options. Some borrowers don't realize they have options at all. If you've been paying your mortgage for a few years, it's worth a conversation about what that equity means for you.

Let's talk about how much equity you may have built and what you can do with it.

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 Heather Llanes team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

H

Heather Llanes

Heather Llanes

heather.llanes@onerealmortgage.com

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