These are national mortgage index rates as of October 20, 2026. The 30-year fixed is at 7.33% — down 0.04% from last week, FHA at 7.13%, and VA at 6.95%. For exact rates tailored to your buyers, reach out to your loan officer directly.

Source: Optimal Blue daily mortgage indices via FRED

From Your Lending Partner

Renovation Loans Open Inventory Your Buyers Have Been Ignoring

The best-kept secret in a low-inventory market is the renovation loan. While your buyers are competing on turnkey properties, there's a whole layer of homes — dated, cosmetically challenged, priced below market — that most buyers skip because they assume they need cash to fix them up. They don't. FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle loans let buyers finance the purchase and the renovation in a single loan. One closing, one payment. Buyers can borrow up to the after-improved value of the home — which means the renovation essentially pays for itself through equity. I've used this to help buyers turn a $320K fixer into a $410K home at close. The process is more involved than a standard purchase — there's a required contractor bid and a HUD consultant on FHA deals — but I manage that entire process. If you have buyers frustrated by competition on move-in-ready homes, let's open up the conversation about what a renovation loan could unlock for them.

Let's map out what a renovation loan could look like for one of your buyers this week.

Mortgage News Daily

Home Prices Keep Climbing, Just Not Everywhere

Home prices picked up a little more speed in July, as both FHFA and the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed stronger annual appreciation than in their previous readings. The gains remain relatively modest by historical standards, and while nominal prices are still moving higher nationally, the picture looks considerably less impressive after accounting for inflation. The FHFA H

HousingWire

Have mortgage rates peaked, or will we see even more chaos?

The month of October still has plenty of variables that can be a problem for rates

Mortgage News Daily

New Home Sales Back in The Range After Uncommonly Big Bounce

The new home market returned to the longer-term range last month, with sales seeing their 4th biggest rebound in 4 years.  Sales of new single-family homes rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000 in August, up 6.4% from July's revised 643,000 but 2.0% below the same month last year. The increase puts sales back above the 600,000 mark after July's pullback, although the broader tr

Did You Know?

DSCR Investment Loans

Qualify investors on rent, not personal income.

DSCR loans let real estate investors qualify for financing based on the property's rental income — not their personal tax returns or DTI. Ideal for portfolio investors who've maxed out conventional loan counts.

Share With Your Buyers

Getting Pre-Approved

Tip of the Week

Keep major renovations in line with your neighborhood. Over-improving for the area limits your return at resale.

Your Mortgage Advisor