The Mortgage Files

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

Tips To Financing Closing Costs

By Scott Sheldon / November 17, 2013

Closing fees are always an inevitable part of taking out a mortgage. Following are little-known tips to minimize the fees when encumbering property… Ask For Seller Credit– In order to finance closing costs in a purchase transaction, buyer asks seller for closing cost credit in the offer. Most lenders allow for a  3% seller credit.…

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…

Signs It's Time To Wait Applying For A Mortgage Loan

By Scott Sheldon / August 5, 2013

You’re doing everything right, you’re paying your bills on time, you earn good income, and you’re applying for a mortgage with second thoughts. Maybe you’re trying to buy a new home, and something’s just not right, perhaps the proposed new payment is a financial squeeze. Paying attention to the signs means the difference between making…

Why Student Loans Can Hurt Your Mortgage Application: Avoid Denial

By Scott Sheldon / July 21, 2013

For anyone who has tried to apply for a mortgage and had student loans, they know whats it’s like to be scrutinized and questioned by the mortgage company over the validity of the those obligations. Like other forms of debt, like car loans or credit cards, student loans fall into the same classification, debt made…

Renting? How About Buying The Buy House Instead?

By Scott Sheldon / July 8, 2013

If you have never owned a home before, or owned a home in the past, or previous circumstances require you to rent a home now, and you’re thinking about buying a home again, we have good news. An opportunity in the market is to purchase the home you live in. That’s right make a purchase…

Why Ability To Qualify Supersedes Rate

By Scott Sheldon / March 22, 2013

Consumers shopping for a mortgage typically concentrate on attaining lowest possible interest rate. Rates have risen slightly in recent weeks as a more exuberant stock market has taken shape. Current consensus points to more consumers entering the mortgage market, motivated to take action, as a result. Factors At Work The financial markets, jobs data, and…

How To Buy & Transfer Family Real Estate

By Scott Sheldon / March 3, 2013

An alternative to purchasing property on the open market is to purchase family-owned property. Buying a family-owned home allows the buyer and the seller to directly set the purchase price between themselves. How To Set Up The Transaction In a family purchase buy out, relationship between parties doesn’t matter (as long as clearly explained), more…

Will "Qualified Mortgages" Help Consumers?

By Scott Sheldon / January 13, 2013

On January 10, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unveiled new rules to help protect consumers from unscrupulous mortgage lending. These rules implement underwriting criteria what constitutes a “qualified mortgage”.  As long as the mortgage lender meets certain criteria, the consumer cannot sue a lender for not verifying income, providing a loan to a consumer…