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Jeff Ostrowski

Principal Writer, Home Lending
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Mortgages
  • Mortgage refinancing
  • Mortgage rate trends
  • Housing market
  • Real estate
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Master of Arts, University of Illinois at Springfield
  • Continuing coursework, including NMLS Mortgage Loan Originator education and MLO SAFE Test

About the author
Jeff Ostrowski has closely covered two nationwide housing booms and one devastating bust. Before joining Bankrate in 2020, he spent more than 20 years writing about real estate, business, the economy and politics. He previously worked as a reporter at the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Business Journal.

Since 2019, Jeff has served on the board of the nonprofit National Association of Real Estate Editors. He twice has won gold awards in the group’s journalism contest. His Bankrate coverage of housing affordability was also honored with a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.

When he’s not working, Jeff enjoys surfing, biking and traveling, usually with a surfboard or bike.
Jeff is the author of How to Buy a Home in a Miserable Market, available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.

Jeff beyond Bankrate

CNN interviews Jeff Ostrowski about hottest and coldest housing market

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Schwab Network interviews Jeff Ostrowski about mortgage rates

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New York Times interviews Jeff Ostrowski about housing supply

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Washington Post cites Jeff Ostrowski about mortgage rates

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Jeff wants you to know
When you’re applying for a mortgage, shop around and do your homework — informed borrowers can save thousands of dollars over the life of their loan. Don’t fixate on finding the absolute perfect option, though, or timing your loan to a low point for mortgage rates. If you’re borrowing now, mortgage rates could go down in the future. Avoid worrying about all those things that are both out of your control and impossible to predict.

Jeff's Picks

Shaking hands
4 MIN READ

Hungry mortgage lenders are dangling deals and discounts

They’re hoping promos will make you ignore the runup in interest rates.

Front view of the UWM building
3 MIN READ

The 10 largest mortgage lenders in the U.S.

UWM claims the top spot on the latest list.

end of an era for mortgage rates - suburban homes from above
6 MIN READ

It’s the end of an era for mortgage rates

The last time rates were this high was in 2001, when the median home price was a mere $156,000.

Young woman paying for coffee with credit card
4 MIN READ

Rocket’s new credit card is aimed at homebuyers — but is it a good deal?

Is Rocket Mortgage’s new rewards credit card the best way to save for a down payment?

Jeff's latest articles