The Mortgage Files

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

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…

5 Flexible Ways To Come Up With A Down Payment

By Scott Sheldon / September 1, 2013

To purchase a home you will need a down payment of at least 3.5% of the purchase price. Gone are the days of no down payment alternatives, down payment assistance, and seller offered programs to come up with the money needed to close escrow. Here’s five ways to come up with the down payment to…

Pinpointing Your Rate When Refinancing Your Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / August 26, 2013

Timing the market, determining the best time to lock in your mortgage rate when refinancing your house, welcome to the numbers game. Mortgage rates fluctuate just the way a stock ticker does, so identifying whose a better priced loan lender, at any given point in time, can be an ever more complicated process. That is…

Can I have two FHA Loans out at the same time?

By Scott Sheldon / August 20, 2013

Yes you can. Here’s the best possible scenario to have to FHA Loans out at the same time. You purchased your home originally with an FHA Loan, put 3.5% down and now your situation has changed. Any one the following is makes sense with FHA: perhaps your business is such that you need a bigger…

Slick Mortgage Rate Strategy For Buying A House

By Scott Sheldon / August 18, 2013

To say current mortgage rates are volatile, is an understatement. For the last two months there’s been strong swings in mortgage pricing, mortgage rates to very unstable. Nothing can be more frustrating for pre-approved home shopper knowing their ability to qualify and their subsequent proposed payment could change at anytime. How to deal with volatile…