These are national average rates for the week of September 17, 2026. The 30-year fixed is at 6.95% — up 0.19% from last week, FHA at 6.83%, and VA at 6.72%. For exact rates tailored to your buyers, reach out to your loan officer directly.

From Your Lending Partner

Your Buyers May Qualify for Free Down Payment Money — Here's How

Down payment assistance is one of the most underused tools in our market, and most buyers don't even know it exists. I'm talking about programs that provide grants or forgivable second liens — real money that doesn't have to be paid back — specifically to help buyers get into a home. These programs are income-based and vary by county, but I work with several that cover buyers earning up to $120K annually. Combined with a low-down-payment first mortgage, we can get qualified buyers into a home with as little as $1,000 out of pocket. The catch? These programs have limited funding and move fast. I've seen allocations exhaust mid-month. The buyers I get into these programs earliest are the ones who close. If you're working with first-time buyers who keep losing to cash or larger down payments, let's talk. A well-structured DPA offer can be just as competitive as you think — and I can pre-approve your buyer under one of these programs this week.

I'll check your buyer's eligibility for DPA programs today — just send me their info.

Mortgage News Daily

Pending Sales Rebound Slightly as Regional Results Diverge

Pending home sales edged higher in August as gains in the South and West offset declines in the Northeast and Midwest. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), which tracks signed contracts on existing homes, increased 0.3% from July but was down 4.7% from a year earlier. The modest increase came despite another period of elevated mortgage rates. NAR Chief Econo

HousingWire

Perchwell CEO on landmark MLS shift to next-generation tech

Fairbanks says a recent MLS conversion represents a different pace of industry innovation

Mortgage News Daily

More Mixed Results in Residential Construction Report

Residential construction was mixed in August as housing starts recovered in the single-family sector, while building permits declined from July levels and completions fell sharply. The latest Census Bureau data points to continued unevenness in residential construction, with builders pulling back somewhat on new authorizations even as single-family construction picked up. Privately owned housing s

Did You Know?

Bridge Loans

Buy the next home before selling the current one.

A bridge loan gives move-up buyers short-term liquidity to close on a new home without waiting for their current property to sell. No sale contingency, no rushed decisions, no temporary housing.

Share With Your Buyers

Understanding Escrow and Taxes

Tip of the Week

Replace weatherstripping around exterior doors every few years. It's one of the cheapest ways to improve energy efficiency.

Your Mortgage Advisor