|
Mortgage Market Update
Joseph Kennaley
Joseph Kennaley
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
|
Your credit score matters more than you think |
|
Hi there. This week I want to walk you through something that affects your mortgage more than most borrowers realize.
|
|
National Mortgage Rates · August 27, 2026
|
%22%2C%22fill%22%3Atrue%2C%22tension%22%3A0.4%2C%22pointRadius%22%3A4%2C%22pointBackgroundColor%22%3A%22%233b5bdb%22%2C%22borderWidth%22%3A2%7D%5D%7D%2C%22options%22%3A%7B%22plugins%22%3A%7B%22legend%22%3A%7B%22display%22%3Afalse%7D%7D%2C%22scales%22%3A%7B%22y%22%3A%7B%22ticks%22%3A%7B%22callback%22%3A%22function(v)%7Breturn%20v%2B%5C%22%25%5C%22%7D%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22%23666%22%7D%2C%22grid%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22rgba(0%2C0%2C0%2C0.06)%22%7D%7D%2C%22x%22%3A%7B%22grid%22%3A%7B%22display%22%3Afalse%7D%2C%22ticks%22%3A%7B%22font%22%3A%7B%22size%22%3A11%7D%2C%22color%22%3A%22%23666%22%7D%7D%7D%7D%7D&w=520&h=180&bkg=white&f=12) |
|
Source: Freddie Mac PMMS & Optimal Blue via FRED
Rates shown are national averages 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.
|
|
|
|
Debt & Borrowing
Your credit score and your mortgage rate
I talk with borrowers all the time who wonder why their neighbor got a better rate than they did. Often, it comes down to credit. Your credit score is one of the biggest factors lenders use to price your loan — and it can swing your rate significantly. The good news: you don't need a perfect score to qualify, and even small improvements can add up to real savings over the life of your loan. If you're thinking about buying or refinancing soon, now's a smart time to check your credit report for errors and understand where you stand before we talk numbers. Let's review your credit situation and talk about what works for your financial picture.
|
|
Tip of the Week
Your mortgage interest may be tax-deductible if you itemize. Check with your tax professional to see if it benefits you.
|
|
Tips for Homeowners
Understanding Mortgage Points
|
|
1.
|
One mortgage point equals 1% of your loan amount. Paying points ("buying down the rate") reduces your interest rate — typically 0.25% per point, though this varies by lender and market.
|
|
2.
|
Calculate your break-even: divide the cost of the points by your monthly savings. If it takes 4 years to break even and you plan to stay 10 years, buying points makes sense.
|
|
3.
|
Points paid on a home purchase are generally tax-deductible in the year paid (if you itemize). Points on a refinance must be deducted over the life of the loan.
|
|
|
Have questions about how any of this affects your mortgage or home purchase? We're here to help — reach out to the Joseph Kennaley team any time and we'll walk you through your options. |
|
|
You are receiving this from Joseph Kennaley. Unsubscribe
|