These are national mortgage index rates for the week of November 5, 2026. The 30-year fixed is at 7.18% — down 0.06% from last week, FHA at 6.9%, and VA at 6.76%. For exact rates tailored to your buyers, reach out to your loan officer directly.

Source: Optimal Blue daily mortgage indices via FRED · 30-yr and 15-yr: Freddie Mac weekly survey

From Your Lending Partner

FHA Isn't Just for First-Time Buyers — Here's When It Wins

FHA gets a reputation as the "starter loan," but it's the right tool in more situations than people realize. The 3.5% down requirement is hard to beat for buyers with limited cash, and the credit flexibility — approvals down to 580 — means buyers with imperfect history still have a path to homeownership. What most agents don't know is that FHA can actually be the better option even for buyers who qualify conventional. When a buyer's credit score is in the 620–659 range, FHA pricing often beats conventional significantly. The monthly MIP can be offset by the lower rate and better loan-level pricing. I model both options for every buyer and present the real numbers. FHA also allows seller concessions up to 6% — which creates more room for rate buydowns and closing cost coverage in negotiations. If you've been steering buyers away from FHA without modeling it, let's revisit that conversation. The right loan isn't always the most obvious one.

I'll run FHA vs. conventional side-by-side for any buyer you're working with.

HousingWire

What I learned sitting on both sides of the REO assignment

Most files are won in the first 72 hours; fast occupancy checks and clear updates prevent delays

Mortgage News Daily

New Home Sales Reinforce Last Month's Rebound

New home sales lost almost no ground in September, effectively reinforcing the healthy rebound seen in August's report.  The Census Bureau's New Residential Construction report clocked sales at an annual pace of 676k, down only 0.6% month over month. As seen in the chart below, the broader trend has been sideways for nearly 3 years now. The number of new houses for sale slipped to 476,000 , d

HousingWire

VantageScore 4.0 can create more homebuyers. Now America needs more homes.

FHFA approved VantageScore 4.0 in 2022, and GSE lenders gained broad access in September

Did You Know?

Conventional 1% Down

Your buyer puts in 1% — the lender covers the other 2%.

Most agents don't know this program exists. Qualified buyers can purchase with just 1% down on a conventional loan — the lender contributes an additional 2% grant, getting them to 3% equity at close with no second lien, no repayment.

Share With Your Buyers

The Home Inspection

Tip of the Week

Closing costs typically run 2-5% of the loan amount. Ask your lender for a Loan Estimate so there are no surprises.

Your Mortgage Advisor