The Mortgage Files

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

The 3 most common mortgage loan types

By Scott Sheldon / November 25, 2020

Picking the right mortgage loan type for your family is a big financial decision. Here are some things to consider about the three most popular types of mortgages and what the pros and cons and differences are between all three… Most mortgages today are for 30 year fixed rates. There are other terms available such…

The number one reason why you shouldn’t buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / November 19, 2020

Buying a home is a balancing act between a mortgage payment in relation to present and future expenses. One of the biggest challenges people have when buying a house is being able to plan a family budget around a mortgage payment. Real estate is not black and white, it is not linear sometimes it’s a…

How out of pocket costs relate to mortgage refinancing

By Scott Sheldon / November 13, 2020

With interest rates at historical lows, many families across the country would stand to benefit from turning in their high-cost mortgage in exchange for getting something far more affordable with today’s rates. There’s a lot that goes into the mix, including cost-benefit, what the real cost of funds is and many other factors to weigh…

Risky income moves which may prevent you from getting a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / November 6, 2020

One of the challenges of getting mortgage loan financing these days is showing total and complete monthly income. Contrary to popular belief you must be able to support ability-to-repay (ATR) as a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has laws in place to make sure abusive lending practices from days past don’t repeat themselves. One of the…

How a homeowners association payment can change your borrowing power

By Scott Sheldon / October 30, 2020

A homeowners association payment can change your borrowing power. Here’s what you might want to think about when deciding to buy a home with a home owner’s association… A homeowners association payment can make or break your ability and or your desire to purchase a home. One of the things about homeowners association payments that…

How to decide the right time to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / October 22, 2020

One of the challenges people have when deciding to purchase a house is trying to pinpoint the right time to make the move. Everyone is in a different stage of life and pinpointing the optimal time can be a little bit tricky depending on one’s personal finances. Here are some things to consider when deciding…

Here’s 3 types of pricier mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / October 15, 2020

When you’re in the market to get new mortgage loan financing it can seem like it’s an endless navigational process to figure out what loan amount, what interest rate, what program what option is best suited to meet your needs. Here five pricier types of mortgages to be aware of… Cash-out refinances cost more because…

Common reasons buyers give to not buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / October 8, 2020

How can you determine what is the right house, the right area the right location, and the right house for you and your family? Here are tips to consider as you’re out there in the marketplace looking at houses with your real estate agent… What type of house are you looking for? Are you looking…