9/25/26 - Interest Rates & Market 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 — September 25, 2026
| Conventional | Government | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Year Fixed | 7.125% | FHA 30 Year Fixed | 6.625% |
| 15 Year Fixed | 6.625% | FHA 5/1 ARM | 6.375% |
| VA 30 Year Fixed | 6.750% | ||
| USDA 30 Year Fixed | 6.750% | ||
| Jumbo / Portfolio | Portfolio (up to 100% financing) | ||
| 30 Year Fixed Jumbo | 6.875% | Doctor 7/1 | 6.625% |
| Prime 7/1 | 6.625% | Buyers Advantage 30 Year Fixed | 7.375% |
| Community Advantage 30 Year Fx | 7.875% | ||
Rates are a weekend snapshot and can change daily. They are not a lock and will vary by credit, down payment, loan amount, occupancy, and property type. Always confirm current pricing with your lender before making a decision.
What This Means for Gulf Coast Buyers
Compared with our August 28 snapshot, purchase rates have moved higher heading into the last weekend of September. The 30-year conventional is now 7.125% (up from 6.475%), and the 15-year conventional is 6.625% (up from 5.750%). On the government side, FHA 30-year is 6.625%, VA 30-year is 6.750%, and USDA 30-year is 6.750%. The FHA 5/1 ARM is 6.375% — still the lowest number on this week’s sheet, and still worth a conversation if the payment on a 30-year fixed feels tight.
Specialty programs moved with the rest of the board. Jumbo 30-year is 6.875%. Prime 7/1 and Doctor 7/1 are both at 6.625%. Buyers Advantage 30-year is 7.375%. Community Advantage is 7.875%, so that product needs a careful conversation rather than a default choice.
This is a bigger step than the midsummer drift we saw between June and August. It does not mean buyers should freeze. It does mean the payment you quoted in August is not the payment you should write into an offer today. Get a fresh number before you tour this weekend.
The takeaway has not changed: do not shop by one number alone. The best loan for a primary home in Gulf Shores, a second home in Orange Beach, or an investment condo is often a different program than the one a friend locked last month. That is why I keep Joey in the conversation early — so you know what you actually qualify for before you write an offer.
For additional insights into mortgage trends, you can read the SouthState Capital Markets Weekly Newsletter by Chris Bowers, which provides regular updates on the U.S. housing and mortgage markets.
The Local Market Still Rewards Prepared Buyers
Rates are only one piece. Inventory, condition, and how you write the contract still decide whether you get the house. Buyers who are pre-approved, know which loan program they are using, and can close on a realistic timeline remain in the strongest position in Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach.
If you have been waiting for “perfect” rates, this is a good week to run the numbers on the payment you can live with — not the rate you remember from August, and not the rate you remember from 2021. A well-located coastal property you plan to keep still pencils differently than a short-term rate bet.
Buyers or sellers considering Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach are encouraged to explore the options currently available in today’s market.
Let’s Talk
If you want a second set of eyes on a payment, a program, or a property, I am happy to walk through it with you and connect you with Joey when you are ready to get current numbers in writing.
Call or text me at 251-233-9790 or email Lorraine@gulfshoresconnect.com.
— Lorraine Gatti
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