Stephen Bellew · October 31, 2026

One small change that saves you money long-term

Mortgage Market Update

Stephen Bellew

Stephen Bellew

Saturday, October 31, 2026

One small change that saves you money long-term

Hi there, Today I want to share something that can genuinely move the needle on your mortgage—without needing a rate drop or a refinance.

National Mortgage Rates · October 29, 2026

Conventional 30-Year

7.15%

FHA 30-Year

7.04%

VA 30-Year

6.79%

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.


Paying Down Faster

What happens when you pay extra toward your mortgage

One of the smartest moves a homeowner can make is paying a little extra toward principal each month. Even small additional payments chip away at what you owe, which means less interest over the life of your loan and a faster path to owning your home outright. The math works in your favor—every dollar you add to principal reduces both your balance and the total interest you'll pay. Of course, it only works if your budget allows for it. Before you commit to extra payments, make sure you're covering your other financial goals too. If you're curious whether this strategy makes sense for your situation, I'd love to walk through the numbers with you.

Reach out if you'd like to talk through how extra payments could work in your plan.

Tip of the Week

Refinancing resets your amortization clock. If you're 10 years into a 30-year loan, consider a shorter term to avoid paying more total interest.

Tips for Homeowners

Co-Signing a Mortgage: What You're Really Agreeing To

1.

Co-signing makes you equally responsible for the debt. If the primary borrower misses payments, your credit score takes the same hit and the lender can pursue you for the full balance.

2.

The co-signed mortgage debt appears on your credit report and counts toward your DTI. This can limit your ability to qualify for your own financing until the loan is paid off or refinanced out of your name.

3.

There's no automatic way to remove yourself as a co-signer — the primary borrower must refinance the loan in their name alone. Get this understanding in writing before you sign.

Have questions about how any of this affects your mortgage or home purchase? We're here to help — reach out to the Stephen Bellew team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

S

Stephen Bellew

Stephen Bellew

sbellew@power-lending.com

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