| |
 |
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
|
|
A Note From Joseph Brown
Weekly Market Update
Hello,
Welcome to this week's Mortgage Market Update!
Whether you're thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or simply keeping an eye on the market, staying informed can help you make better financial decisions.
This week, we're watching:
Current mortgage rate trends
Housing market activity
Economic news that may impact interest rates
Opportunities for first-time homebuyers and move-up buyers
Available down payment assistance programs
Mortgage rates can change daily, and even small movements can affect your purchasing power and monthly payment. If you're considering buying a home in the coming months, now is a great time to review your options and develop a strategy.
If you have questions about financing, credit improvement, down payment assistance, FHA, VA, Conventional, DSCR, or other loan programs, I'm here to help.
Feel free to reach out for a personalized mortgage review or pre-approval consultation.
Have a great week!
Joseph C. Brown
Mortgage Loan Originator
Empire Financial Group
Phone: 786-342-8999
Email: jbrown@mpirefi.com
|
Mortgage Market Update
How much equity do you actually have
Hi there—I wanted to share something that matters to every homeowner but doesn't get talked about enough. Here's what you need to know.
|
|
|
|
National Mortgage Rates · October 16, 2026
|
Conventional 30-Year
7.28%
|
|
| |
|
%22%2C%22fill%22%3Atrue%2C%22tension%22%3A0.4%2C%22pointRadius%22%3A4%2C%22pointBackgroundColor%22%3A%22%233b5bdb%22%2C%22borderWidth%22%3A2%7D%5D%7D%2C%22options%22%3A%7B%22plugins%22%3A%7B%22legend%22%3A%7B%22display%22%3Afalse%7D%7D%2C%22scales%22%3A%7B%22y%22%3A%7B%22ticks%22%3A%7B%22callback%22%3A%22function(v)%7Breturn%20v%2B%5C%22%25%5C%22%7D%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22%23666%22%7D%2C%22grid%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22rgba(0%2C0%2C0%2C0.06)%22%7D%7D%2C%22x%22%3A%7B%22grid%22%3A%7B%22display%22%3Afalse%7D%2C%22ticks%22%3A%7B%22font%22%3A%7B%22size%22%3A11%7D%2C%22color%22%3A%22%23666%22%7D%7D%7D%7D%7D&w=520&h=180&bkg=white&f=12) |
|
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
How much of your payment goes toward ownership
Every month, part of your mortgage payment builds equity—that's the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe. Early on, most of your payment covers interest, but as time goes on, more goes straight into ownership. Understanding this matters because equity is real wealth you can tap into later, whether you refinance, sell, or need cash. If you've been in your home for a few years, you might be surprised how much you've already built up. The best part? There's no extra effort required—it happens automatically with every payment you make.
|
|
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 Joseph Brown team any time and we'll walk you through your options.
|
|
Mpire Financial · Unsubscribe
|
|