Deuane Woodard · October 20, 2026

How your monthly payment builds wealth

Mortgage Market Update

Deuane Woodard

Deuane Woodard

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

How your monthly payment builds wealth

Your mortgage is more than a monthly bill. Each payment is quietly working for you.

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.


Equity Building

What you're actually building with each payment

Most people think of their mortgage payment as just an expense—money gone. But here's what's really happening: with every payment you make, you're building equity in your home. Early on, most of that payment covers interest, which is why equity grows slowly at first. But as time goes on, more of each payment goes toward principal, and your ownership stake in the home grows faster. Understanding this matters because that equity can become useful down the road—whether you want to tap it for a major expense, refinance into better terms, or simply know you're building real wealth. I'd be happy to walk you through how your specific loan builds equity over time.

Let me show you a breakdown of your equity growth and what it means for your financial picture.

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 Deuane Woodard team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

D

Deuane Woodard

Deuane Woodard

deuane@barrettfinancial.com

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