The Mortgage Files

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

Should you go FHA or conventional for purchasing your first home?

By Scott Sheldon / August 4, 2019

Buying your first home should be handled with extreme care including selecting which mortgage loan program makes the most financial sense. Following is what you ought to consider when looking at both mortgage loan programs … Loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are conventional loans which require a minimum down payment of 5%…

Here are 2 mortgage process problems you will want to avoid

By Scott Sheldon / July 28, 2019

Securing mortgage loan financing is the cornerstone of financial prosperity in America. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever take on your life. Here’s watch to avoid when applying for a high-ticket mortgage… Make no mistake the way mortgage companies must originate loans is 100% controlled by the federal government. That means the “asks”…

What you need to know about the mortgage 4506T document

By Scott Sheldon / July 14, 2019

What you need to know about the mortgage 4506 document when purchasing or refinancing a house When you’re taking on a mortgage to purchase or refinance a property you must provide an ample supply of supporting financial documentation. One such document the lender is going to ask you for is to execute of 4506t document.…

Here is a legit non-traditional income program for self-employed mortgage borrowers

By Scott Sheldon / June 30, 2019

Traditionally, self-employed mortgage borrowers are more heavily scrutinized by mortgage companies because of their gyrating income. If their business stops the revenue stops and their ability to make a mortgage payment could be impacted. That’s the rationale behind why lenders look at self-employed borrowers more stringently. Lenders request both personal and or corporate returns from…

Should you buy & build or buy a single family home?

By Scott Sheldon / June 23, 2019

  Purchasing a house is representative of so many different things in life depending on who you ask. Buying a lot and constructing is a monstrous project requiring long-term planning. Here’s some things to consider if you’re trying to weigh out the options… Let’s first look at the example of building home. Building a home…

Here’s the loan process and what not to do when getting a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / June 9, 2019

When you’re getting a mortgage the process can seem a little bit scary because it’s unfamiliar and most people don’t take out mortgages that often, so the unfamiliarity of the process can seem daunting stressful and somewhat cryptic. Here is how the mortgage process works and most importantly what you should avoid doing when getting…

Be careful getting a mortgage if you have a bankruptcy

By Scott Sheldon / May 26, 2019

A bankruptcy can possibly be a detrimental blow to your mortgage chances if it’s not handled in the right way. Following is what you should take into consideration if you have a bankruptcy in your past or will be filing an upcoming bankruptcy… First things first for our purposes we are discussing a Chapter 7…

Should you do a cash-out refinance or get a home equity line of credit?

By Scott Sheldon / May 19, 2019

As mortgage rates continue to remain flat, it might not be a bad thing to consider really weighing out both options of getting a home equity line of credit or doing a Cash out refinance for that home improvement project or debt consolidation you have been thinking about. If you’re looking to pull money out…