Michele de Vahle · October 20, 2026

What your mortgage type actually means

Mortgage Market Update

Michele de Vahle

Michele de Vahle

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

What your mortgage type actually means

I hear a lot of questions about mortgage programs, and for good reason—the options can feel confusing. Here's what matters to know.

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.


Loan Programs

Not all mortgages work the same way

When you're shopping for a mortgage or thinking about refinancing, you'll hear terms like fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, FHA, conventional, and VA thrown around. They're not just different names—they work differently, come with different rules, and suit different financial situations. A fixed-rate loan keeps your payment stable for the whole loan term. An adjustable-rate mortgage might start lower but can change over time. Government-backed programs like FHA have different down payment and credit requirements than conventional loans. The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay in your home, your tolerance for payment changes, and what you qualify for. It's worth understanding which programs you're actually eligible for and how each one would play out in your scenario.

Let's talk through which program makes sense for your goals.

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 Michele de Vahle team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

M

Michele de Vahle

Michele de Vahle

mdevahle@power-lending.com

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