The blog
Short notes from me on buying, refinancing, and making sense of the choices in between.
November 2, 2026
Mortgage rates have quietly improved over the past month. That’s welcome news for buyers, but with Friday’s October jobs report ahead, the practical…
Read the articleOctober 28, 2026
Mortgage borrowers are tiptoeing back in. Applications rose 3.4% in the week ended October 23, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA),…
Read the articleOctober 27, 2026
If you’re asking, “how much house can I afford?” the first number you hear may come from a lender. It’s useful, but it is not necessarily the amount…
Read the articleOctober 26, 2026
For buyers looking at an Ohio home loan this week, the latest reported averages offer a snapshot, not a personal quote. On Monday, October 26, the…
Read the articleOctober 21, 2026
At a 660 credit score, the choice between FHA and a conventional loan with 3% down is not as simple as “lower down payment wins.” FHA requires 3.5%…
Read the articleOctober 15, 2026
A letter that says “pre-approved” can sound reassuring. But those words don’t tell a seller how much work a lender has actually done, or how likely…
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October 13, 2026
If buying a home in the next 6–12 months is on your mind, you don’t need to have every answer today. You do need a starting point, and enough time to…
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October 12, 2026
Here’s the honest version: no down payment does not mean no money at all. A zero-down mortgage can remove the down payment, and Ohio Housing Finance…
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October 11, 2026
Buying a home brings plenty of questions, and mortgage answers shouldn’t require a dictionary. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or moving to your…
Read the articleOctober 10, 2026
How much house can I afford?” is one of the first questions buyers ask, and it deserves a better answer than “whatever the lender approves.” A useful…
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October 9, 2026
Seeing “cash offer” in a listing can make a financed buyer feel like they just showed up to a race wearing flip-flops. But cash offers are not…
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October 8, 2026
A quick closing can make your offer stand out, especially when the seller values certainty as much as price.
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October 7, 2026
If you are buying a home in Ohio, you may assume your current bank is automatically the easiest and least expensive place to get a mortgage. After…
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October 6, 2026
Buying your first home in Ohio is exciting. It is also the moment when a surprising number of fees seem to come out of hiding.
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October 5, 2026
Buying a home in Columbus, Ohio, or elsewhere in Central Ohio involves more than choosing a neighborhood and deciding whether the kitchen needs an…
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October 5, 2026
Mortgage rates are near their highest point in a year. That is not exactly the pumpkin-spice latte of housing news, but it does not mean buyers should…
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October 4, 2026
Buying a home in Ohio can feel complicated enough without mortgage myths making the process harder, or more expensive. Many buyers delay their plans,…
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October 3, 2026
If mortgage rates have you thinking, “Maybe homeownership needs to wait,” you are not alone. The latest headlines are not exactly bringing snacks to…
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October 2, 2026
Friday is a great day to talk strategy, especially if you are shopping for a home in Ohio and preparing to make an offer.
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October 1, 2026
If you are buying a home in Ohio this fall, you may have more negotiating power than buyers had a year ago, but that does not mean every offer is…
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September 30, 2026
If you are hoping to buy a home in Ohio or Columbus, Ohio, this week’s inflation news is a little encouraging, but it is not a signal to put your…
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September 30, 2026
When you’re comparing mortgage options, a lower interest rate can look very appealing. The question is: how much should you pay upfront to get it
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September 28, 2026
If you are shopping for a home in Ohio or Columbus, Ohio, you may have noticed that mortgage rates are making headlines again, and not because they…
Read the articleSeptember 25, 2026
Mortgage rates around 7% can make a home payment feel heavier than expected. But waiting for rates to fall is not the only strategy available to…
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September 25, 2026
If you are shopping for a home in Ohio or Columbus, Ohio, you have probably noticed that mortgage rates are not exactly what they were a few years…
Read the articleSeptember 24, 2026
A lot of buyers are sitting on the sidelines right now, waiting for the Fed, the bond market, or mortgage rates to do something helpful. I get it.…
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September 24, 2026
The rent-versus-buy debate is often treated like a sporting event: renting is one team, buying is the other, and everyone wants to know who wins.
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