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.
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.
Today's average rate for the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.89, the average rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.15 percent, and the average rate on a 5/1 ARM is 6.49 percent.
Home prices hit a new record high for November, according to NAR.
The Fed cut rates by another quarter point — how will it affect the housing market?
The current average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.79, the average rate for the benchmark 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.11 percent, and the average 5/1 ARM rate is 6.43 percent.
The current average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.70, the average rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.00 percent, and the average rate on a 5/1 ARM is 6.32 percent.
CityWorth Mortgage is a mortgage lender good for those interested in an online process or a no-closing-cost mortgage. Learn more about CityWorth Mortgage and compare this lender to others.
Formerly affiliated with BNC National Bank, the First Federal Bank Mortgage Lenders team specializes in VA loans, but can help you obtain a conventional, FHA or USDA mortgage as well.
Some options if you want a house but your savings are small.
It’s a mortgage has to adhere to certain standards — to protect both you and the lender.
