Best Mortgage Lenders in Cleveland, OH

How to choose a mortgage lender in Cleveland

Key factors that influence the best mortgage choice include the price of the home, the size of down payment and your credit history.

Cleveland’s residential real estate market is similar to national trends of higher prices, increasing interest rates and lack of available properties. The median home sales price in Cleveland is about $123,000 compared to the national median sales price of around $265,000.

Affordability will decline with reduced inventory and increasing home prices and mortgage rates. These increases in home value provide owners with greater equity, which should lead to more refinancing activity.

Best neighborhoods to buy a home in Cleveland

Cleveland has some emerging areas that are worth a home investment. It's wise to get a mortgage loan for a home in an area where it will retain its value over time.

• Broadway/Slavic Village: This neighborhood on the city’s southeast side offers a diverse mix of residential options from older Victorian homes to newer condos. There is significant greenspace with multi-use trails, landscaped roadway medians and a nine-hole golf course.
• Detroit-Shoreway: This west-side neighborhood is home to the Gordon Square Arts District, which includes the Cleveland Public and Capital Theaters. There is improved access to the lakefront and emerging retail options lining Detroit Avenue. Prices of existing single family homes are in the city’s median range, with many new higher-end properties along the lake going for $300,000+.
• Jefferson: Consists of primarily single-family homes with ample parks and retail. Has a local Rapid Transit rail station and easy access to I-71 and I-90. Homes are priced slightly below the median. Along Lorain Avenue are stretches of vacant and poorly maintained retail and light industrial properties.
• Puritas-Longmead: A middle-class neighborhood divided into several sections by main lines and Interstate 480, each with a distinct feel. Employment has improved from the development of several light industrial parks. Home prices near Bellaire & W. 130th are below the median due to some dilapidated properties and crime.
• Tremont: Located just south of downtown and characterized by renovated older homes, Tremont home prices are well above the median. Access to downtown and Cuyahoga Valley parks is convenient. Tremont is great for pedestrians and trendy stores and restaurants, but is known for lack of parking.
• West Boulevard: Positioned southwest of the city center with convenient access to I-71 and I-90, this blue collar neighborhood is a mix of older single and multi-family homes with a median price of $87,000.

Common types of mortgage loans in the Cleveland housing market include:

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Volume and percentages rounded.