Following September's trend, mortgage rates continued to increase in October, at one point reaching 4.9% for a conventional 30 year fixed mortgage, according to FreddieMac.com. (Though, remember, for most people rates are now in the 5% - 6% range due to a variety of factors including credit score, loan amount, and type of loan; talk to a mortgage lender for a better idea of what your rate would be). But while higher mortgage rates have led to a decline in home sales this year, that drop has been felt more in the expensive segments versus entry-level and first-time buyer markets, which remain firm. Despite rates going up, monthly mortgage payments still remain affordable and owning is typical