I'm Justin Reeder — a mortgage loan originator at Certified Home Loans LLC. I work with multiple wholesale lenders so you can compare your options instead of settling for whatever one bank offers. Based in Parma, serving all of Ohio.
When you go to a bank — Chase, PNC, Key, whoever — you get their products at their price. That's it. A mortgage broker works differently. I take your application once and submit it to multiple wholesale lenders. You get to compare rates, fees, and terms side by side, then choose the option that fits your situation.
I don't work for any single lender. I work for you. That means I have no reason to push you toward a product that doesn't make sense for your goals. If one lender's guidelines don't fit your scenario, I have others to turn to. That flexibility matters — especially for first-time buyers, self-employed borrowers, or anyone whose situation doesn't fit neatly into one box.
One set of products. One set of rates. One set of guidelines. If you don't fit, they say no. You start over somewhere else with another credit pull and another application.
One application. Multiple lenders competing for your business. More loan programs. More flexibility. I handle the shopping — you pick the option you're most comfortable with.
Don't take my word for it. You can also leave a review on my Mortgage Matchup profile.
"From day one, my husband and I felt the connection with Justin. He was warm, cordial and all positive. It feels like we've known him for a long time. During the purchase of our home there were many obstacles and Justin made a personal and professional impact in our lives that we will always remember. Everything was over the phone and online — the esigning process was so easy. He's worked wonders — brought our APR all the way down to 2.79%. He made our process stress free. He basically did everything for us. We will always be forever grateful."
"Justin was more than we could ask for. In this crazy market Justin was incredibly patient and always available to us. He's so friendly and easy to speak with. We are first time home buyers and had so many questions that he was more than willing to answer, even if they were outside of his direct scope. Even after closing when we ran into a few speed bumps Justin was prompt in answering our questions."
"Justin made the difficult process of refinancing so easy. He is not only friendly, but took the extra effort to ensure we were comfortable and understanding of every step. Working with him was natural and we will definitely be revisiting future needs with him. There's not a better person you can match up with than him for your mortgage needs."
"Justin was amazing! I can't thank him enough for helping us with the purchase of our house. He was extremely professional from the first time I spoke with him, very responsive, and honestly, we wouldn't have had our house if it wasn't for him. He truly goes above and beyond."
"Justin was very personable, communicative, and informative throughout my time working with him to buy a home. It was my first time buying a home, and even when we had bumps in the road out of our control, he was there and super supportive."
"The most awesome, realest lender I've known! You honestly feel like you've known him for a long time and are best buds! He explained everything well and was always there no matter what. Loved him and his work."
"As a first home buyer he made this experience as easy as possible. He gave all the answers and information that I needed. He went above and beyond my expectations and thanks to him today me and my lady live in our beautiful forever house. He was honest and truthful — that's why when my veteran friends are looking for a house I always refer them to Justin."
"Justin did my refinance, nothing but good things to say about him. Was very happy with his service and offering. Treat his clients with respect and very educational throughout the process. Got us a great rate also!"
"Justin was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Justin answered every one of my calls or texts in a matter of minutes — you can tell he genuinely wants the best for all of his clients."
"Enjoyed working with Justin! He was very knowledgeable upfront for me as a first time homebuyer and guided us through the process. Was a pleasure to work with him and have him answer any questions we had in a timely manner."
These are the main loan types I work with. I have access to all of them through multiple lenders — so if one doesn't fit your situation, there's usually another that does.
The standard mortgage for borrowers with solid credit. As low as 3% down for first-time buyers, 5% for others. No upfront mortgage insurance. Most competitive terms typically go to borrowers with 700+ credit, but options exist down to 620.
Designed for first-time buyers or borrowers with lower credit scores. 3.5% down with a 580+ score. More flexible debt-to-income ratios. A strong option in Cleveland and Akron where home prices keep FHA loan limits comfortable.
For eligible veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses. Zero down payment. No monthly mortgage insurance. If you've served, this is typically the most favorable mortgage product available — and I'll make sure you're getting every benefit you've earned.
Zero down payment for homes in eligible rural and suburban areas. Many areas south of Cleveland, around Medina, and throughout Southern Ohio qualify. Income limits apply but are generous. One of the most underused programs in the state.
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency offers 30-year fixed-rate loans with down payment assistance — 2.5% or 5% of the purchase price, forgiven after 7 years. Ohio Heroes discounts for teachers, nurses, veterans, police, and first responders. Grants for Grads for recent college graduates with DPA forgiven after 5 years. Cuyahoga County has its own separate DPA program that can cover up to 17% of the purchase price plus 5% for closing costs. I help you figure out which programs you qualify for and how to stack them together.
For rental property buyers. DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans qualify based on the property's rental income, not your personal income. No tax returns required. Close in an LLC. Works for both long-term and short-term rentals. First-time investors welcome.
National average rates updated daily from Mortgage News Daily. These are averages — your actual rate depends on your credit, loan type, and down payment. As a broker, I shop multiple lenders to find where you fall within (or below) these numbers.
National averages via Mortgage News Daily. Updated weekdays. Not a commitment to lend. Full data →
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Rates are just one piece of the equation. Cleveland and Northeast Ohio remain among the most affordable housing markets in the country — which means current rates hit your monthly payment less hard here than they do in most other metros. A rate that might price you out in Columbus or Cincinnati still leaves plenty of buying power in Greater Cleveland and Akron.
My advice: Don't let the rate headline scare you. If you're financially ready and you find a home you like, buy it. If rates improve later, we refinance. You marry the house — you date the rate. That's not a slogan, it's math. I'll show you the numbers for your specific situation so you can decide with confidence, not anxiety.
For first-time buyers: Ohio's down payment assistance programs can significantly offset the impact of current rates. A 5% DPA grant through OHFA, combined with competitive broker pricing, often results in a lower effective monthly cost than buyers expect. Let's run your numbers →
Straight answers. No jargon. If you don't see your question here, reach out and I'll answer it directly.
I'm in Parma and most of my business is in the Cleveland-to-Akron corridor — Lakewood, Strongsville, Medina, Brunswick, Canton, all the way down to Wooster. But here's the thing — the mortgage process is mostly phone, email, and online. I work with people across Ohio the same way I'd work with someone ten minutes down the road. Licensed statewide.
Fill this out and I'll reach out within 24 hours. No obligation, no pressure — just a conversation about what you qualify for.
In the meantime, check out the FAQ or rate outlook above.