The Mortgage Files

Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.

Mortgage Loan Costs Rising In 2012

By Scott Sheldon / January 18, 2012

Considering purchasing or refinancing? If yes, be prepared to send in your financial documentation as soon as possible.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been ordered eat the losses to pay for federal tax cut extensions. Congress has mandated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must increase their guarantee fees charged to all sellers. The…

Mortgages: What The Big Banks Are Good At

By Scott Sheldon / January 11, 2012

If you are doing research about mortgages and try to find the best place to secure a competitive mortgage with the best interest rate quote, know the truth about big banks. Consider the biggest players in the mortgage loan arena B of A, ( biggest mortgage lender ever), Wells & Chase. These are the three…

How Interest Rate Locks Work

By Scott Sheldon / January 4, 2012

In the mortgage finance world mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers work off interest rates on a daily basis. Interest rates change very frequently, sometimes upwards of several times daily. Most mortgage companies have their eye on what’s happening with rates and can advise you on making the appropriate choice whether to lock in or whether…

Mortgage Tip: Buying A House With Ease

By Scott Sheldon / December 27, 2011

Buying a house these days can be a sound financial decision. Low interest rates plus low house prices makes buying a house today something that is within the grasp for many families. As the market has continued to tighten from an underwriting perspective buying a house can be a simple process or it can be…

Best Mortgage Rate Quote Vs. Locked Rate

By Scott Sheldon / December 23, 2011

Securing a mortgage loan today for a purchase or refinance is looking very attractive with interest rates near 4% on long-term 30 year fixed rates. Over the last couple of months, mortgage rates have hit record lows three times what the last one being last week with a 30 year fixed rate mortgage hit 3.94%.…

First Time Home Buyers: Prime Opportunity In Winter Months

By Scott Sheldon / December 19, 2011

Sonoma County First Time Home buyers listen up we are in the month of December and in case you haven’t noticed, most people have thrown in the towel on their home search until April. This means there is prime opportunity in the market to get a mortgage from an abundance of first time buyer programs.…

Find An Investment Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / December 16, 2011

A key opportunity in Sonoma County is buying an investment real estate and subsequently getting an investment mortgage. Over the years non-owner occupied mortgage loans have gotten tighter in terms of stricter mortgage loan underwriting criteria. You can purchase a property in Sonoma County with an investment mortgage and positively cash flow the property after…

Dealing With A Low Appraisal On A Sonoma County Refinance Loan Part 2

By Scott Sheldon / December 14, 2011

A Sonoma County Refinance Loan will require an appraisal in order to determine the value of the property the mortgage lender will lend against. Unlike the purchase transaction, the refinance deals solely you as the borrower, the mortgage lender and the real estate appraiser who has been hired to do a valuation of your property.…