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.
For homebuyers, the 2025 version of the housing market presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. On the unfavorable side of the ledger, home prices remain at record highs, and mortgage rates have [...]
If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Missouri, help is available.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer in New Jersey, help is available.
A HELOC is a second mortgage that uses your home as collateral to let you borrow up to a certain amount over time. To find the best lender for your needs, explore Bankrate's list of best lenders to compare before making a decision.
The start of 2025 saw a dip in existing-home sales.
They’re hoping promos will make you ignore the runup in interest rates.
You can be a “first-time homebuyer” — and get financial aid — even if you’ve owned a place before.
Here’s how PMI removal works.
