Jeff Ostrowski

SENIOR MORTGAGE REPORTER

EXPERTISE

Housing
Mortgages
Economy

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master's degree, University of Illinois at Springfield

With its double-digit price increases and intense fear of missing out, this housing boom feels a bit like the last bubble. But it's different in some important ways -- homes are in short supply, and lending standards remain far tighter than they were from 2003 to 2007.
— Jeff Ostrowski

About the author

Jeff Ostrowski writes about the U.S. housing market for Bankrate. He has appeared on CNBC and numerous radio and television outlets to discuss his reporting about real estate trends.

Highlights

As the COVID-19 pandemic roiled the U.S. economy, Jeff created Bankrate's Housing Hardship Index to track which states were being hit the hardest by the crisis. As the economic slowdown transitioned into a housing boom, Jeff created Bankrate's Housing Heat Index to show which states are experiencing the most robust real estate economies.

Experience

Jeff has closely covered two nationwide housing booms and one devastating bust. Before joining Bankrate, he wrote about real estate, business and the economy for the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Business Journal. Jeff serves 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 honored in the most recent Best in Business awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.

In the media

With its double-digit price increases and intense fear of missing out, this housing boom feels a bit like the last bubble. But it's different in some important ways -- homes are in short supply, and lending standards remain far tighter than they were from 2003 to 2007.
— Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff's Picks

Real estate commissions fall to new lows as homes fly off the market

4 min read

Jeff's Latest Articles

Mortgage surprise: Jumbo rates suddenly are much cheaper

Jumbo rates haven’t shot up like those for conforming mortgages.

2 min read Jan 28, 2022
Today’s best mortgage and refinance rates, January 27, 2022 | Rates rise

Mortgage rates continue within reach of record lows: the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 3.73, the average rate you’ll pay for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 3.09 percent, and the average 5/1 [...]

3 min read Jan 27, 2022
FOMC signals rate hike: How the Federal Reserve affects ARMs, HELOCs and home equity loans

If you have a home equity loan or variable mortgage, pay attention to the Fed.

3 min read Jan 26, 2022
Latest mortgage news: Rates retreat a bit

If you haven’t refinanced your mortgage in the last year, now is the time.

3 min read Jan 26, 2022
FOMC meeting: How the Federal Reserve affects mortgage rates

The Fed doesn’t directly impact mortgage rates, but rates spiked ahead of this month’s Fed meeting.

4 min read Jan 26, 2022
Today’s refinance rates tick higher – January 26, 2022

The average 30-year fixed-refinance rate is 3.68 percent, up 11 basis points compared with a week ago. The average rate for a 15-year fixed refi is 3.01 percent, up 11 basis points since the same time [...]

5 min read Jan 26, 2022
Today’s mortgage & refinance rates, January 26, 2022 – Rates rise

Mortgage interest rates persist within reach of record lows: the average rate you’ll pay for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 3.68, the average rate you’ll pay for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 3.03 percent, [...]

3 min read Jan 26, 2022
Adjustable-rate mortgages: Learn the basics of ARMs

With an ARM, your interest rate can change periodically. Here’s what else to know.

3 min read Jan 25, 2022