Seriously, is it just me or are mortgage rates completely random depending on where you live? My brother in Texas just locked in a rate way lower than anything I've seen here in California. I mean, same credit score, similar income...what gives? Feels like playing some weird regional lottery. Curious if others are noticing this too or if I'm just having terrible luck lately.
"Feels like playing some weird regional lottery."
You're not far off—mortgage rates can definitely feel random at times, but there's actually a method behind the madness. Different states have varying lender competition levels, local housing markets, and even state-specific regulations that impact rates. Plus, property taxes and insurance costs can factor in heavily. I've seen clients move just one state over and get noticeably better deals. It's frustrating for sure, but you're definitely not alone in noticing this trend lately...
"Feels like playing some weird regional lottery."
Yeah, that's pretty spot-on. I remember shopping around for a refinance a couple years back—same credit score, same income, same everything—and the quotes I got from lenders just one county apart were wildly different. Sure, local regulations and competition matter, but honestly, sometimes it feels like lenders just throw darts at a board. There's logic behind it, but good luck figuring it out from the outside looking in...
