Waukesha Freeman Article

Article from Waukesha Feeman, Waukesha, WI, Sunday Home Plus supplement, Sept. 2011

New Website helps consumers find the best mortgage interest rates
By Jamie Trudell

If you’re in the market for a new house, you’ll definitely want to check rateOasis.com before deciding on a lender. The free Website, which launched in Wisconsin on August 18, provides comprehensive mortgage interest rate comparison information to consumers. The site does this by continuously searching a variety of interest rates from banks and credit unions. Not only is it free, but it’s also anonymous, making it a unique commodity that stands apart from its competitors.

The creator of the site, Craig Sayers, hails from Madison and has held various positions in the business world, including that of a mortgage broker. He came up with the idea for rateOasis.com in 2008 because he saw the need for a clear place to go to quickly and anonymously compare the offerings of different banks and credit unions in the area. Other sites provide comparable services, but they’re more sales-geared, whereas rateOasis.com functions as an impartial search engine. Banks and credit unions can advertise additional information about their services on the site, but Sayers explains that paid advertisements will be clearly indicated to the consumers.

Since approximately 85 percent of homebuyers start their mortgage search online, according to Sayers, the services provided by his site are extremely valuable, both for consumers as well as banks and credit unions. The benefits of rateOasis.com are numerous, and include being user-friendly and timely, since the site scans and compares interest rates throughout the day.

There is also free educational information available on the site, which Sayers aims to expand, featuring topics such as how credit works, how to build credit scores and step-by-step instructions for first time homebuyers. Users can also upload a free widget that displays the daily averages for 30 and 15-year fixed rate mortgages.

Sayers plans on national coverage, with the goal of expanding the site as well as the services it provides. He notes that he loves hearing consumer’s thoughts about rateOasis.com, and encourages feedback from users by making it an easy process on the site.

“My hope is just for the site to continue to grow, and to enjoy growing it,” said Sayers. “I like starting businesses, so it’s been fun.”

To learn more, visit rateOasis.com.