Jeff Cost

Cincinnati Home Loan

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • First Time Seller Tips
    • First Time Buyer Tips
    • Home Appraisal
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Programs
    • Loan Process
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
    • Get a Rate Quote
    • What to Expect at a Loan Closing: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Apply Now
    • Online Application
    • Home Purchase
    • Home Refinance
    • Loan Comparison
  • Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact

Is This The Start Of A Refi Boom? Mortgage Rates Fall For 8 Straight Weeks.

June 14, 2011 by Jeff Cost Leave a Comment

Freddie Mac mortgage rates 2010-2011

Mortgage rates are falling, falling, falling.

On a wave of uncertainty about Greece and its debt; and weaker-than-expected economic data at home, conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates have fallen to levels not seen since December 2, 2010.

Mortgage rates have dropped 8 weeks in a row. Not even last year’s Refi Boom produced an 8-week winning streak. This season’s streak is historic.

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage now averages 4.49% nationally, down 42 basis points, or 0.42%, since early-April. For every $100,000 borrowed, that equates to a monthly savings of $25.24.

Adjustable-rate mortgages have shed even more, giving back 50 basis points since the streak began.

Because of low rates, it’s an excellent time to buy or refinance a home relative to just a few weeks ago. Note, though, that depending on where you live, you may find your quoted interest rates to be slightly higher or lower than what Freddie Mac reports in its survey. This is because the Freddie Mac figure is a national average.

Mortgage rates and fees vary by region:

  • Northeast : 4.49 with 0.6 points
  • Southeast : 4.52 with 0.8 points
  • North Central : 4.52 with 0.6 points
  • Southeast : 4.52 with 0.6 points
  • West : 4.45 with 0.8 points

You’ll notice that, in the West Region, rates tend to be low and fees tend to be high; in the North Central Region, the opposite is true. You should expect Ohio to have its own pricing norm within this region, too.

Is there a particular rate-and-fee setup that suits you best? The good news is that you can ask for it — no matter where you live.

If having the absolute lowest mortgage rate is more important to you than having the absolute lowest fees, ask your loan officer to structure your loan in the “West” style. Or, if low costs are more your style, ask for them.

Mortgage rates appears as if they’re headed lower but don’t forget how quickly markets can change. Once they do, mortgage rates in Columbus should spike. Exploit today’s market while you still can.

Filed Under: Mortgage Rates Tagged With: Freddie Mac,30-Year Fixed,Refi Boom

Do You Know What Questions To Ask Your Lender?

June 10, 2011 by Jeff Cost Leave a Comment

A mortgage comes with many moving pieces and understanding them is the key getting a great deal. Unfortunately, studies show that few Americans have a firm grasp of how mortgages work — from mortgage types to mortgage fees.

In this back-to-basics interview on NBC’s The Today Show, you’ll learn some mortgage planning basics to help you get smarter with your next home loan in Louisville or anywhere else — purchase or refinance.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • The mortgage applicants for whom adjustable-rate mortgages are a better choice than fixed-rate mortgages
  • Why you should include “How Good Is This Lender?”-type questions in the rate shopping process
  • What a pre-approval letter is good for, and what it is not good for

There is also one of the most simple explanations of “discount points” ever offered on network television.

The video runs 4-and-a-half minutes. For first-time buyers and experienced ones, it’s worth a watch. You’ll pick up some tips to use on your next mortgage.

Filed Under: Mortgage Rates Tagged With: Discount Points,The Today Show

Moving To A New City? See How Much Your Cost Of Living Will Change.

June 9, 2011 by Jeff Cost Leave a Comment

Cost of Living varies from town to townIt’s a fact: It’s more expensive to live in some cities than others. Beyond just the costs of buying a home, different cities also carry a different Cost of Living. For households relocating from OH and  across state lines, the change in “life costs” can be jarring.

Depending on where you live, everyday expenses — from groceries to gasoline — make a different-sized dent in a household budget. And now you can see in numbers by how much your expenses might change.

Visit Bankrate.com’s Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. 

The Cost of Living Comparison calculator is as basic as it is thorough. The calculator asks just 3 questions —  (1) Where do you live now, (2) To what city are you moving, and (3) What is your salary — and uses your answers to produce a detailed, 60-item cost comparison between the two towns.

The city-to-city cost comparisons include:

  • Dry Cleaning Costs
  • Total Energy Costs
  • Beauty Salon Costs
  • Movie Costs
  • Dentist Visit Costs

The list also features a mortgage rate comparison, and a comparison of local home prices.

The Cost of Living calculator is based on data from the ACCRA. On the ACCRA website, a similar report sells for $5. At Bankrate.com, the information is free.

Filed Under: Personal Finance Tagged With: Cost of Living,Household Budget

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 1195
  • 1196
  • 1197
  • 1198
  • 1199
  • …
  • 1201
  • Next Page »

Jeff Cost
Sr. Loan Officer

Cincinnati, OH Mortgage Lender
NMLS# 21688


jeffrey.cost@ccm.com

Call (513) 403-6260
Fax (941) 567-5222

Cross Country Mortgage

How can I help?

Connect with Me!

Browse Articles by Category

The Latest Articles

  • Steps to Take Now to Build Your Credit for a Home Purchase Next Year
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 3rd, 2025
  • Comparing Biweekly Payments and Lump Sum Payments to See Which Saves More
  • Understanding the Pros and Cons of Using HELOCs to Fund Investments
nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Equal Housing Lender

Our Location

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC
4050 Executive Park Drive, Suite 220
Cincinnati, OH 45242

Personal NMLS21688 Branch NMLS2458257
Company NMLS3029

Copyright © 2025 · Powered by MySMARTblog

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in