|
Mortgage Market Update
Cat Barnett
Cat Barnett
Thursday, August 20, 2026
|
Is paying extra on your mortgage worth it? |
|
Hi there—I wanted to touch on something that comes up in conversations pretty often: what to do with extra money when you have it.
|
|
National Mortgage Rates · August 13, 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.
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Money
Should you pay down your mortgage faster?
One question I hear often is whether it makes sense to put extra money toward the mortgage principal. The answer depends on your situation. If you have high-interest debt elsewhere, paying that down first usually makes more financial sense. But if your other debts are manageable and you have solid emergency savings, accelerating your mortgage payoff can save you years of payments and interest over time. The key is making sure extra payments are actually going toward principal—and that you're not stretching yourself too thin in the process. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, which is why it helps to talk through your specific goals and cash flow.
|
|
Tip of the Week
If your credit score is below 740, even small improvements before applying for a mortgage can save you thousands over the life of the loan.
|
|
Tips for Homeowners
Weatherproofing Your Home Before Winter
|
|
1.
|
Clean your chimney if you have a fireplace. The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection and cleaning to prevent chimney fires.
|
|
2.
|
Check attic insulation and ventilation before winter. Inadequate insulation leads to heat loss, higher energy bills, and ice dams on the roof that can cause significant damage.
|
|
3.
|
Inspect weatherstripping on all exterior doors. A simple dollar-bill test works: close the door on a bill — if you can pull it out easily, your weatherstripping needs replacing.
|
|
|
Have questions about how any of this affects your mortgage or home purchase? We're here to help — reach out to the Cat Barnett team any time and we'll walk you through your options. |
|
|
|
(720) 300-6777 | www.LoanFIT.us
You are receiving this from Cat Barnett. Unsubscribe
|
