8/28/26 - Mortgage Rate Update

Staying informed about mortgage trends is an important part of making confident real estate decisions.

Below is the latest rate update from a trusted mortgage professional I have worked with for more than 20 years, Joey Parker.

Below is the most recent snapshot of purchase rates and some special programs. Mortgages today are not just conventional, FHA and VA; there are many different types, and we will help find the best one for you.

Purchase Rates

Weekend Purchase Rates — August 28, 2026

…
Conventional Government
30 Year Fixed 6.475% FHA 30 Year Fixed 5.875%
30 Year Fixed $400K+ 6.475% FHA 5/1 ARM 5.500%
15 Year Fixed 5.750% VA 30 Year Fixed 5.990%

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Saddle Up! Flora-Bama Bulls on the Beach Returns Sept. 10–12, 2026



Three nights of professional bull riding, kids’ contests, themed outfits, and that famous Flora-Bama energy — right on the Alabama–Florida line.

Hey locals and beach dreamers! If you’ve ever heard the roar from the Flora-Bama on a September weekend, you already know: Bulls on the Beach is one of the most anticipated events on the Gulf Coast calendar. This year it runs Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar on Perdido Key.

It’s loud, it’s fun, it’s family-friendly on Thursday, and a portion of proceeds goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It’s also the kind of event that fills hotels, condos, and…

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Get the Trash Out of the Splash: Alabama Coastal Cleanup Is Sept. 19, 2026


Alabama’s largest volunteer event is back; and the beaches we sell, live on, and love depend on days like this.

Hey locals and beach dreamers! Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 19, 2026. The 39th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. along our beaches, bays, parks, streets, and storm drains. Admission is free. Volunteers who collect trash typically receive a t-shirt and cleanup supplies.

The slogan says it best: Get the Trash Out of the Splash. Litter doesn’t stay where it lands. It travels through storm drains, streams, and rivers and ends up in the bay and the Gulf. Picking it up protects the water, the wildlife, and the sugar-white…

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Orange Beach Freedom Fest Returns to The Wharf Sept. 19–20, 2026

A free, red-white-and-blue weekend at The Wharf — classic cars, live music, kids’ fun, and America’s 250th birthday still in the air.

The City of Orange Beach is hosting the 6th Annual Freedom Fest on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 at The Wharf. It continues the community’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Hours:
Saturday, Sept. 19 — 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20 — 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The festival and car show are free. Official details: orangebeachal.gov/429/Freedom-Fest.

What’s Happening

  • Bama Coast Cruisin’ car show along Main Street and Wharf Parkway both days. Motto: “Bring…

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Gulf Shores Year-Round Lifeguards: Safer Beaches, Stronger Demand

WKRG put it simply: the beach doesn’t have an off-season. Gulf Shores just made sure the lifeguards don’t either.

In mid-August, WKRG reported that Gulf Shores is expanding lifeguard coverage beyond the old spring-to-fall tourism window. Beach Safety Chief Joethan Phillips said guards are now on the sand year-round so they’re already there when something happens — not coming from a station after a call.

“It’s still warm all the way through December at least. Any time the weather is warm, people are wanting to come to the beach and enjoy it, so it’s going to be busy throughout the year,” Phillips told WKRG.

A follow-up from FOX10 noted the city doubled full-time, year-round…

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