Skill: li-chi/fha-va-usda-mortgage-rate-watch (version 1.4.0)

--- name: fha-va-usda-mortgage-rate-watch description: Daily FHA, VA, and USDA government-backed mortgage rate monitoring, comparison, and newsletter-style summaries. Use when the user asks about current FHA mortgage rates, VA loan rates, USDA home loan rates, government-backed mortgage rate trends, first-time homebuyer rate options, daily rate updates, refinance rates for FHA/VA/USDA, or wants a rate watch summary or newsletter. Also triggers on questions about FHA vs VA vs USDA loan differences, rate eligibility, or mortgage rate history for these programs. --- # 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](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](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](references/loan-programs.md) | FHA, VA, USDA eligibility, fees, and program details | | [references/newsletter-template.md](references/newsletter-template.md) | Weekly newsletter template with formatting guidance |


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: clean | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: suspicious (MEDIUM)