Rebekah Manuel · October 20, 2026

How rates affect what you can afford

Mortgage Market Update

My Mortgage Company

Rebekah Manuel

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

How rates affect what you can afford

When rates move, the math of homeownership changes too. Here's what actually shifts—and what stays the same.

National Mortgage Rates · October 16, 2026

Conventional 30-Year

7.28%

FHA 30-Year

7.13%

VA 30-Year

6.93%

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.


Affordability Planning

What changes when rates move

When mortgage rates shift, a lot of borrowers assume their payment automatically goes up or down. But it's more nuanced than that. If you're shopping for a home, rate changes directly affect how much house you can afford—the same monthly budget stretches further when rates are lower. If you already have a loan locked in, your current payment stays put unless you refinance. The real impact hits when you're comparing options: two different rate scenarios mean two very different long-term costs, even if the monthly payment looks similar at first glance. Understanding this helps you make smarter decisions about timing, loan type, and how much to borrow. I'm happy to walk through how any rate environment affects your specific situation.

Reach out if you'd like to talk through how rates impact your next move.

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 My Mortgage Company team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

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My Mortgage Company

Rebekah Manuel

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