The Mortgage Files

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

How Solid Is Your Loan Pre-Approval?

By Scott Sheldon / July 30, 2015

If you hear a lender toting they can preapprove you in just a few minutes, stop and run in the other direction- fast. A real pre approval is much more than a loan application and credit report. What to know before jumping into a home… A Traditional Pre Approval Includes The Following: you’ve submitted an…

What are the initials steps I should take when deciding to get pre-approved to buy a home?

By Scott Sheldon / July 25, 2015

Great question and one that should be handled with the utmost care and integrity. First you need to get prequalified. You need to have a conversation with a mortgage professional about your credit, debt, income and assets. After determining you qualify to purchase a home, the lender would ask you to submit a loan application…

4 Things Banks Won’t Tell You About Mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / July 24, 2015

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau strives towards creating more transparency within the mortgage industry, these truths remain. Here are four things you won’t hear from your bank at loan application… ‘You Can Get a Better Deal Elsewhere’ Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac publish mortgagee guidelines banks use to originate loans, in order to ultimately…

How Job Proximity Plays A Role In Your Loan Approval

By Scott Sheldon / July 17, 2015

If want your loan application approved, understand it will need to pass a “reasonable man’s test.” Here is what you need to know about mortgages if you work far away from the home. Home lenders go to great lengths to represent and warrant they have met all credit criteria set forth by Fannie Mae and…

Why Refinancing May Still Make Sense Even If You Plan To Sell In A Few Years

By Scott Sheldon / July 3, 2015

Refinancing could still make sense even if you plan to sell the home down the road. Here are several reasons to consider refinancing anyway. Financial Circumstances Can Change Let’s say you plan to sell your house in five to seven years. No matter how well you plan for the future financially, things happen. Job loss,…

Refinancing? What To Expect If You’re Rusty On The Financials

By Scott Sheldon / June 25, 2015

Homeowners who have not taken out a mortgage in a few years are often astonished at the amount of paperwork they’ll need in the mortgage loan process. If you have not refinanced in the last five years, here’s what to get up to speed on… Paperwork to Compile Scrounging up supporting documentation is the least…

How Financial Inconsistencies Could Affect Your Credit When Applying For A Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / June 19, 2015

The information you submit on your mortgage loan application should be incredibly accurate. This includes submitting full legal names and addresses as accurately as possible. Here’s why… Submitting a Loan Application When you apply for a home mortgage loan, your lender inputs the information you provide them for the purposes of procuring credit. This information…