The Mortgage Files

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

Buying A Sonoma County Fixer? What You'll Need To Be Aware Of

By Scott Sheldon / October 6, 2013

Buying a Sonoma County fixer property?  Be prepared to do some work. What many see as a fantastic fixer-upper property, potential property issues associated with the dwelling could easily derail an appraisal and your mortgage loan. Key characteristics the property you’re interested in purchasing has some “hair on it”……………. Red Flags That Could Jeopardize Your…

My credit score is 620. Do I even have a chance of buying a house? Another Lender told me 640.

By Scott Sheldon / October 2, 2013

Yes you do have choices. You do not necessarily have to have a credit score of 640 or higher, but it is helpful. Typically, loans for borrowers from 620-639 cost more in terms of a pricier interest rate them loans for borrowers who have better credit scores. Bottom line, if you have the income to…

Where do you guys make home mortgages?

By Scott Sheldon / September 30, 2013

We make residential mortgage loans in the great state of California. More specifically, Sonoma County,California including Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati & Sebastopol, Sonoma and Healdsburg. While our focus is on the Sonoma County market, we do make loans outside of Sonoma County on a regular basis including throughout Northern and Southern California. The…

Will Credit Cards Help Me Land A Mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / September 29, 2013

Well? Yes and No, read on…. Like it or not, your relationship with money can be best summed up on paper by how much consumer debt you carry, more specifically in the form of credit cards. Credit card debt is a double-edged sword, especially on high ticket items, like a house purchase. On one end,…

I have multiple financed properties? Can I still get a mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / September 27, 2013

Yes, while you can still get a mortgage, the overall process might take longer. Here’s why if you live in Santa Rosa or Sonoma County, and own multiple financed properties as in more than four financed properties, your lender must put each and every property on the loan application under the schedule of real estate…

How Getting Married Can Halt Your Chances Of Buying A Home

By Scott Sheldon / September 22, 2013

They popped the question, you said “I do”. Getting married is now officially happening. When you say I do, you’re not just saying I do, to that person, you’re saying I do to all their finances, positive or negative as well. Their finances are, will shape “how” or “if”you can buy that home. Why getting…

Delayed Financing Rule: A Cash-Out Refinance With No Wait Time

By Scott Sheldon / September 15, 2013

As this exuberant real estate market drives the housing sector, the chance to utilize home equity, may be a smart move. Rewind to March 2011, Fannie Mae lifts the guidelines surrounding the six month “hold time” (time holding title to a property) allowing cashing out of a recently acquired property. The change has since allowed…

How To Correctly Pay Off Debt When Getting A Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / September 8, 2013

Trying to procure mortgage credit right now? From higher interest rates, to rising house prices to the contraction in buying power, securing financing, for many can prove to be no easy endeavor. As prices, and rates rise in tandem, lenders will still place the weighted emphasis on “real income” as that’s what the mortgage loan is…