The Mortgage Files
Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.
How your mortgage payment changes per every $100,000 in purchase price
One of the questions home buyers have when house hunting is the relationship between their monthly mortgage payment and how much purchase price they are looking to take on. Here’s what you can use as a guide when you’re house hunting to help determine that bridge that gap… In most instances, for every $100,000 of…
Read More about How your mortgage payment changes per every $100,000 in purchase priceFHFA Increases 2018 Sonoma County Loan Limits
The Federal Housing Finance Agency just released the new 2018 national loan limits. These loan limits provide increases in most counties throughout the United States. Here’s how the changes will benefit you when buying or refinancing a home. The loan limit increase changes the conforming loan limit from $424,100 to $453,100. This increase allows for…
Read More about FHFA Increases 2018 Sonoma County Loan LimitsWhat you need to know when paying off debt to buy a home
Here’s what you need to know if you’re trying to pay off debt before buying a home Paying off debt to buy house can absolutely be beneficial. Debt cripples a would-be home buyer’s ability to afford a mortgage payment. Here is how you should strategically look at paying off debt to buy a home… Mortgage…
Read More about What you need to know when paying off debt to buy a homeHere is the dicey reality of renting vs buying in Sonoma County
Whether you buy a home or rent a home you will still have a housing payment obligation to make each month. The unfortunate reality in Sonoma County, CA is that in many cases you could be easily paying more in rent than you would for a mortgage. Not everyone who rents should be and not…
Read More about Here is the dicey reality of renting vs buying in Sonoma CountyHow much does it cost to refinance your mortgage?
If you’re trying to refinance your mortgage you should know what the costs are really are going to be and how they play into the mathematical equation of the total picture. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to refinancing your house and paying fees… When you refinance your house your closing costs…
Read More about How much does it cost to refinance your mortgage?How your mortgage fees are accounted for when refinancing
When you refinance your mortgage, someone is on the hook for paying fees. Who Following are the only ways loan fees can be accounted for when refinancing…. When you refinance your home closing costs are an inevitable component that must be paid for the transaction to successfully fund and close escrow. Here are the two…
Read More about How your mortgage fees are accounted for when refinancingHow to spot a ridiculous mortgage offer
You’ve seen them on the internet and in your mail box, the too good to be true mortgage offer. Here is the truth with regards to mortgage offers that seem too attractive… Mortgage lenders are required to disclose interest rate and APR. Most typically have the fine print at the bottom of the offer in…
Read More about How to spot a ridiculous mortgage offerWhy the media is the worst gauge for the direction mortgage rates
If you’re in the market for a mortgage, the worst gauge the direction of mortgage rates is the media. Here’s why … Mortgage rates trade in lockstep with the mortgage back securities market which changes with the ebb and flow of the stock market. As Money flows in and out of stocks, the same happens…
Read More about Why the media is the worst gauge for the direction mortgage rates