The Mortgage Files

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

Here is a smart mortgage strategy for buying a home in 2023

By Scott Sheldon / June 11, 2023

If you’ve been on the fence about buying a home and you’re thinking about potentially getting prequalified. Here are some things you should give some consideration to… You might be telling yourself “I don’t want to buy a home right now because interest rates are kind of high.”  The question becomes in relation to what?…

5 ways you will not get a home loan to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / February 26, 2023

Most people given a choice would desire to purchase a home, arguably, given their financial situation, and their ability to handle a monthly housing payment. Oddly enough, there are times from a lender’s perspective you might not get a home loan and it has nothing to do with your credit score, credit, history, income, or…

Is is a second mortgage making your refinance harder? This tip may help…

By Scott Sheldon / May 7, 2020

Mortgage lenders sometimes take an overly gun shy approach to how a mortgage loan is originated. One such example of this is if you have a first and a second mortgage on your home. Let us say your goal is to refinance and to not get any money out but just combine the first and…

How to avoid getting a jumbo loan due to Coronavirus

By Scott Sheldon / April 22, 2020

Securing mortgage loan financing right has become a little bit of a challenge for some families desiring to borrow money. Here are some considerations you need to be aware of if you’re looking for a jumbo mortgage during the coronavirus pandemic… If you’re looking to mortgage a house and the size of a loan that…

How to get a mortgage if you’ve been furloughed to do to COVID_19

By Scott Sheldon / April 9, 2020

The coronavirus has undoubtedly created a significant amount of challenges for mortgage companies and families across America. Some lenders are changing credit score requirements, others are pulling out of the market entirely, and others are making restrictions on what types of loans they will fund. If you are in the process of getting a mortgage…

Don’t make this common 401K home buying mistake

By Scott Sheldon / March 19, 2020

One excellent way to buy a house is to borrow money from your 401k. Every 401K provider is different, and the language associated with your 401k provider can make or break your ability to buy a home. Here’s what you need to know if you’re borrowing money from your 401k to purchase a house. For…

Don’t make this home buying when negotiating the purchase price of a house

By Scott Sheldon / March 12, 2020

Buying a home is a high ticket purchase. It requires careful planning and due diligence. One of the biggest factors of buying a home is taking into consideration all the various reports, dates, and deadlines. It can be quite an ordeal of a process if it’s not handled correctly. Here is what to know… One…

Buy a house now or should I wait?

By Scott Sheldon / February 26, 2020

One of the things homebuyers are always asking themselves is buying now versus waiting. Mathematically it could pencil out that buying a house down the line might make more sense, but you should pay close attention to all the financial contributors in your life so you can make the most informed decision possible… The lay…