The Mortgage Files

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

Why You’re Burning Money If You Have Not Yet Refinanced Your 4.25 Or Higher Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / October 29, 2015

If you’re serious about reducing your interest expense associated with your mortgage, refinancing is a guaranteed bet to reduce your payment, reduce your cost of funds and pay off your home faster. Haven’t refinanced yet? Know your options… Rate Reduction This is number reason most consumers elect to refinance. The biggest driver of payment reduction…

How Mortgage Interest Works

By Scott Sheldon / October 9, 2015

Mortgage interest is a double edge sword, on one hand it’s a tax-deductible expense, but by and large it is the heaviest cost of homeownership. What to pay attention to if you have not done a mortgage in a few years or bought a home before. Interest Works The Opposite Of Rent The amount of…

Can You Get A Seller Credit For Closing Costs Anymore?

By Scott Sheldon / September 18, 2015

Home prices have risen across the country in comparison to just a mere few years ago. Despite that, here is how you may still be able to obtain a seller credit for closing costs… A credit for closing costs involves the seller of the property you’re interested in buying receiving less net proceeds in exchange…

Here Is The Biggest Obstacle First-Time Home Buyers Face And Its Not Credit Score

By Scott Sheldon / September 4, 2015

It is no secret the cost of housing is expensive. Rising rents, and a strong real estate market, make it harder for first-time buyers to get a piece of the American dream.  Buying a home means getting yourself credit worthy in these four areas: Credit Debt Income Assets If you do not know where you…

The Truth About The Media’s Reporting On Interest Rates

By Scott Sheldon / September 2, 2015

Have ever heard about mortgage rates in the media only to then call a mortgage company and receive conflicting information? Here is why the media’s reporting on rates should be taken with a grain of salt… Know this-real time information is critical. When you hear about mortgage rates moving in the news, by the time…

The Recent Mortgage Guideline Changes That Could Save Your Loan

By Scott Sheldon / August 22, 2015

The challenges consumers have faced in recent years in procuring a mortgage may be coming to an end. Here are four major changes making your mortgage easier… Landlord History-until recently, in order to qualify for conventional loan financing you needed to show a history of being a landlord for the most recent last 24 months.…

Using APR To Distinguish Between Mortgage Offers

By Scott Sheldon / May 14, 2015

Everyone wants to know they’re getting a fair and reasonable mortgage offer. The federal government supports the annual percentage rate disclosure as the benchmark barometer of loan cost. Here are the facts… Quick APR Tidbits The annual percentage rate is a disclosure only seen in the origination of new credit or in advertisements of various…