|
Mortgage Market Update
Chris Ristau
Chris Ristau
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
|
Fixed or adjustable—what's the difference? |
|
Hi there,
One of the most important decisions in a mortgage isn't always talked about enough—and it can shape your payment stability for years to come.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Loan Program Basics
Fixed vs. adjustable: which matters for you
When you're shopping for a mortgage, one of the first questions is whether to lock in a fixed rate or consider an adjustable one. A fixed rate stays the same for the life of your loan—predictability is the main appeal. An adjustable rate typically starts lower but can change after an initial period, which means your payment could go up or down later on. Neither is automatically "better"—it depends on how long you plan to stay in the home, how comfortable you are with payment uncertainty, and what your finances can handle. I always walk borrowers through both options so they understand what they're signing up for. The right choice for someone buying their first home might look different than it does for someone refinancing after ten years in their current place. Let's talk about which structure makes sense for your timeline and comfort level.
|
|
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 Chris Ristau team any time and we'll walk you through your options. |
|
|
You are receiving this from Chris Ristau. Unsubscribe
|