Ryan Leahy · October 20, 2026

Fixed or adjustable—what's the difference?

Mortgage Market Update

Ryan Leahy

Ryan Leahy

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Fixed or adjustable—what's the difference?

One of the biggest decisions in getting a mortgage is choosing the right loan program. Here's what you need 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

Fixed vs. adjustable: which fits your plan

When you're shopping for a mortgage, the interest rate gets most of the attention—but the type of loan you choose matters just as much. A fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same rate for the life of the loan, so your payment never changes. An adjustable-rate mortgage starts lower but can move over time, which means your payment could go up. Neither is right or wrong; it depends on how long you plan to stay in your home and how comfortable you are with payment uncertainty. If you're planning to be here for years, fixed often wins. If you're thinking shorter term, an adjustable might make sense. I'd love to walk you through what each looks like for your specific situation.

Let's talk about which loan structure makes sense for your timeline and budget.

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 Ryan Leahy team any time and we'll walk you through your options.

Your Mortgage Advisor

R

Ryan Leahy

Ryan Leahy

ryan@familymtg.com

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