The Mortgage Files

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

How much of your income should go towards a mortgage payment?

By Scott Sheldon / July 17, 2018

One of the challenges home buyers face when purchasing a house for the first time is of their income should go towards a mortgage payment. This number varies greatly and just because the bank tells you you can take on a certain payment to income ratio that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Here is…

What to look for in a mortgage lender when buying a home

By Scott Sheldon / July 3, 2018

Contrary to widespread belief not all mortgage companies work the same. Buying a house is generally thought of as the most important financial transaction of your life and as such should be handled with extreme care and prudence. You want to make sure you pick the right mortgage company and more importantly the right loan…

These little lending nuances may help you land a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / June 26, 2018

Getting a mortgage in 2018 there is a bureaucratic and compliant process with a significant amount of paperwork involved. Following is some tips on various loan programs available in the marketplace you may not know… Conventional mortgages they will go up to a debt to income ratio of 50%. Here is the kicker if your…

Why the house that needs work should not be overlooked

By Scott Sheldon / June 11, 2018

If you’re purchasing a house whether it’s a primary home move up home or secondary home and the house needs work, don’t shy away from that. Here’s what you might want to think about when buying a house that needs some TLC… How bad really are the repairs? Just because you are pre-approved to purchase…

What you need to know about private mortgage insurance

By Scott Sheldon / June 5, 2018

If you’re purchasing or refinancing a house with less than 20% Equity. You’re going to be subject to having PMI. Here’s what you need to know regarding private mortgage insurance with regards to financing your house… When you have less than 20% equity on your house the mortgage company is going to require you to…

Watch out for these two sneaky mortgage practices

By Scott Sheldon / May 30, 2018

It’s no surprise the housing market has tight inventory and mortgage rates are on the rise. As the overall market continues to contract banks are coming up with innovative ways to elicit business. The following tricks are ethically questionable… The first trick banks use is associated with credit reporting. Mortgage companies must pull a copy…

3 things you will never hear from a big internet mortgage lender

By Scott Sheldon / May 23, 2018

Working with an internet lender may or may not be in your best interests. Whoever you hire to help you with mortgage loan financing should be well-versed and experienced in mortgage financing. Here are 3 things you will never hear from an internet only lender…. If you don’t fit our programs, you probably will not…

Loan programs to look at with little or no down payment

By Scott Sheldon / May 15, 2018

Looking to buy a primary home or maybe a move up home, but don’t have any cash? Following are some programs they could be available to you to help you purchase a house… VA financing… if you are a military veteran you can purchase a house with no money down using a VA loan. The…