Weekly Mortgage News Roundup for Oct. 23, 2020

These are our top mortgage news stories for the week. Whether you're planning to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage, be sure to check them out.

Mortgage rates have held steady this week, with both the 30- and 20-year loan staying at under 3% and the 15-year loan hanging in below 2.5%. But that's not all that's happened. Check out these developments in the mortgage world.

• Mortgage Rates Hit 10th Record Low

The average 30-year mortgage hit a new record low of 2.81% for the week ending Oct. 15, reports Freddie Mac. That's yet another milestone during a period of insanely competitive rates.

• 3 Reasons Your Mortgage Payments Could End Up Higher Than Expected

The mortgage payment you think you'll be subject to could end up being a much larger number. Here are some of the reasons why that might happen, and how to prepare for them.

• Mortgage Delinquencies Reach 20-Year High

There are more delinquent mortgage borrowers today than there have been since 1999. We can thank the coronavirus pandemic and financial upheaval it produced for this sad statistic.

• Mortgage Forbearance Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since Mid-April

Borrowers who can't pay their mortgages during the pandemic are automatically entitled to forbearance, which allows them to pause loan payments for up to 360 days. But the forbearance rate has dropped on a national level, which could indicate that the economy is slowly but surely improving.

• Here's What a High Credit Score Could Save You on Your Mortgage

You've probably heard that the better your credit, the more likely you are to get approved for a mortgage. But a higher score could also result in major savings throughout the life of your loan.

Whether you're aiming to buy a home, refinance your mortgage, or simply keep tabs on the housing market, be sure to check out The Ascent's mortgage coverage each week. We're busy gathering all of the top mortgage news that's out there so you can stay informed.