The Mortgage Files

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

Buying A House: What To Expect

By Scott Sheldon / June 3, 2012

Buying a house is certainly a smart financial move given low mortgage rates and the most affordable home prices, ever.  Each market is different so for our purposes we will be looking at the Sonoma County California housing market. Following is what you can expect if you plan to purchase a house in Sonoma County…

FHA Home Loans: Mortgage Insurance Premiums Set To Rise!

By Scott Sheldon / March 12, 2012

Thinking about purchasing or refinancing using the Sonoma County mortgage? If yes, the mortgage insurance premiums on FHA Home Loans are set to rise again on April 1. The Federal Housing Administration continues to keep a close eye on their capital reserves and as a result, have instituted higher costs on FHA Home Loans originated…

Home Loan Denied: Consider Re-Applying With A Different Mortgage Company

By Scott Sheldon / February 20, 2012

Getting your home loan request denied, is certainly not a fun thing to deal with. Lots of times certain mortgage companies have internal mortgage loan underwriting requirements which might be more constrictive than a competitor of theirs. Not every mortgage company has the same set of guidelines and standards. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and…

Mortgage Tip: Buying A House With Ease

By Scott Sheldon / December 27, 2011

Buying a house these days can be a sound financial decision. Low interest rates plus low house prices makes buying a house today something that is within the grasp for many families. As the market has continued to tighten from an underwriting perspective buying a house can be a simple process or it can be…

First Time Home Buyers: Prime Opportunity In Winter Months

By Scott Sheldon / December 19, 2011

Sonoma County First Time Home buyers listen up we are in the month of December and in case you haven’t noticed, most people have thrown in the towel on their home search until April. This means there is prime opportunity in the market to get a mortgage from an abundance of first time buyer programs.…

Steps To Buying A Home: Where To Begin

By Scott Sheldon / November 16, 2011

The decision to buy a home is a smart one. Real estate prices have never been more affordable and interest rates have never been lower creating a win-win scenario for people entering the market. Many people ask the question “how do I purchase a home? If you’re thinking about buying a home here the eight…

First Time Home Buyers Get Zero O% Down Payment

By Scott Sheldon / September 26, 2011

Sonoma County First Time Home Buyers are now getting to enjoy it easy street. For years, first time home buyers were capped at putting down hefty down payments. Since the markets have changed, first time home buyers in Sonoma County can now purchase a house with 0% down. Move up buyers can also purchase a…

FHA Loans Help The First Time Home Buyer

By Scott Sheldon / June 29, 2011

FHA Loans Help The First Time Home Buyer “Get In.” Almost the whole pool of available FHA loans are being provided to first time home buyers. The popularity of FHA loans has risen dramatically in the last few years. This is caused folks to strongly consider an FHA loan when financing a house. An FHA…