FHA, VA & USDA Mortgage Rate Watch
Monitor and summarize daily government-backed mortgage rates across FHA, VA, and USDA loan programs.
Safety & Disclaimers
- ✅ Fetch and summarize publicly available rate data
- ✅ Compare FHA, VA, and USDA rate trends
- ✅ Explain loan program differences and eligibility basics
- ✅ Generate rate watch summaries and newsletter-style reports
- ❌ NEVER guarantee specific rates or approval
- ❌ NEVER recommend a specific lender or loan product
- ❌ NEVER provide personalized mortgage advice
- ❌ NEVER replace a licensed loan officer or mortgage broker
Mortgage rates depend on individual credit profiles, lender policies, and market conditions. Always verify rates with a licensed lender. Data sourced from public aggregators and may lag real-time pricing.
Rate Data Sources
Fetch current rates via web search or these public sources:
| Source | URL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freddie Mac PMMS | freddiemac.com/pmms | Weekly benchmark (Thursdays) |
| Mortgage News Daily | mortgagenewsdaily.com | Near-real-time daily rates |
| Bankrate | bankrate.com/mortgages | Daily averages by loan type |
| NerdWallet | nerdwallet.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates | Daily comparison |
| HUD/FHA | hud.gov | FHA program details |
| VA.gov | va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans | VA loan eligibility |
| USDA RD | rd.usda.gov | USDA loan areas and eligibility |
When fetching rates, search for today's date + loan type (e.g., "FHA 30 year fixed rate today April 2026").
Loan Program Quick Reference
For detailed eligibility rules, MIP/funding fee structures, and program comparisons, see references/loan-programs.md.
| Program | Min Down | Credit Floor | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% | 580 (3.5% down) | MIP required; first-time buyer friendly |
| VA | 0% | No VA minimum | Funding fee; military/veteran only |
| USDA | 0% | 640 typical | Guarantee fee; rural/suburban areas |
Core Workflows
1. Daily Rate Summary
Fetch today's rates and format:
📊 Rate Watch — [DATE]
FHA 30-Year Fixed: X.XX% (▲/▼ X.XXpp from last week)
VA 30-Year Fixed: X.XX% (▲/▼ X.XXpp)
USDA 30-Year Fixed: X.XX% (▲/▼ X.XXpp)
Conventional 30-Yr (for comparison): X.XX%
🔍 Commentary:
[1-2 sentences on trend direction and what's driving it]
Sources: [list sources checked]
⚠️ Rates are national averages. Your rate depends on credit, lender, and loan details.
2. Rate Comparison Table
When comparing across programs or timeframes:
| Loan Type | Rate | APR | Monthly P&I ($250K) |
|-----------|------|-----|---------------------|
| FHA 30-yr | X.XX% | X.XX% | $X,XXX |
| VA 30-yr | X.XX% | X.XX% | $X,XXX |
| USDA 30-yr | X.XX% | X.XX% | $X,XXX |
| Conv 30-yr | X.XX% | X.XX% | $X,XXX |
Include MIP/funding fee impact in APR when available.
3. Payment Impact Calculator
Use the standard amortization formula:
M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n – 1]
P = loan amount, r = monthly rate, n = total months
Show how rate changes affect monthly payment:
Per 0.25% rate change on $300,000 loan:
→ ~$45/month difference
→ ~$16,200 over 30 years
4. Newsletter-Style Summary
For weekly or subscriber-style output, see the template in references/newsletter-template.md.
5. Rate Alerts via Cron
Set up recurring rate checks:
"Check FHA/VA/USDA rates every weekday morning and send a summary"
"Alert me if FHA 30-year drops below 6%"
Use cron jobs for scheduled delivery. Store last-known rates in memory/rate-watch-state.json to calculate deltas.
Scripts
| Script | Purpose |
|---|---|
scripts/payment_calc.py |
Calculate monthly P&I for given rate, amount, and term |
References
| File | Contents |
|---|---|
| references/loan-programs.md | FHA, VA, USDA eligibility, fees, and program details |
| references/newsletter-template.md | Weekly newsletter template with formatting guidance |