Hey House Hacking Mastery, Mortgage rates keep climbing, and more buyers are reaching for adjustable-rate loans to get a lower starting payment. Here's what's going on and how I'd think about it: 1. Rates hit another high for the year. Mortgage News Daily's average 30-year mortgage rate was 7.61% on Monday, the highest in its past year of data. Freddie Mac's weekly average is 7.28%, up from 6.34% a year ago. 2. More buyers are going adjustable. Adjustable-rate loans made up more than 11% of rate locks, the biggest share in nearly four years, and half of borrowers paid points (cash at closing to lower the rate) in August (Intercontinental Exchange Mortgage Monitor, Oct 5). 3. Stress-test before you take one. An adjustable-rate loan can help a house hack work today, but only if it still works when the rate resets. Know when the fixed period ends, ask for the caps, run your numbers at the highest possible rate, and have a plan before the reset. Also worth knowing: new homes now sell for less per square foot than existing homes ($205 vs. $212, Zillow), so builders may have more room to deal on price or pay down your rate. Your turn: would you use an adjustable-rate loan on a house hack right now, or stick with a 30-year fixed? Why? — Coach Joe