The Mortgage Files

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

Should you buy a fixer house?

By Scott Sheldon / February 6, 2016

Is the house in fair condition a good bet? Here are some things to consider if the affordable home you’re eyeing needs some work. The first thing to consider when buying a home is location. Location, location location is the credence held by most real estate experts. The reality of the market; true fixer homes…

Mortgages: How to find the net tangible benefit through the fees, rate and payment

By Scott Sheldon / January 28, 2016

When shopping for a mortgage, it’s critical to have a general understanding of how the fees, rate and payment all connect to your bottom line. Here are tips better to identify your net tangible benefit on a home loan… Rates & fees The cost of an interest rate (mortgage pricing) moves with ebb and flow…

What to do if you need last year’s income tax returns to get a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / January 13, 2016

How’s your income? This is the first of many questions a banker is going to ask when you apply for a home loan. Here is how tax returns play a role in your ability to obtain mortgage loan financing. Generally, you need provide two years of 1040’s to a banker when applying for a home…

How Often Can You Refinance Your Home?

By Scott Sheldon / January 8, 2016

There is no limitation to how frequently you can refinance your home. Do it as often and freely as you like as it financially makes sense to do so. Following are some things to consider when pulling the trigger… Closing Costs Are you throwing good money after bad? If you recently paid fees on your…

Axing The Car Lease May Help Your Home Buying Efforts

By Scott Sheldon / December 31, 2015

Obtaining financing to buy a home is undoubtedly a process of documenting, explaining and documenting some more.  Here is how a car lease can be a hurdle for home buying plan. Work-around options… What You Pay Counts When you apply for a mortgage loan, a mortgage broker is going tally up total payments you make…

Can You Get Mortgage Financing For Manufactured Or Modular Homes? You May Be Surprised…

By Scott Sheldon / December 27, 2015

Trying to get a loan for a mobile home? You may be surprised learn there is financing options available for non-single-family residence homes. What to know… Your property type holds all the cards in whether or not you’ll be able to obtain competitive loan terms. For starters, you need to own the land. If you…

Refinancing: 4 Practical Money Saving Ways To Combine A First & Second Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / December 22, 2015

Do you want to combine your first and second mortgage into one? Here’s 4 smart some money savings tips to be aware of when you submit a loan application. When you apply to refinance your home with the intent of financing more money beyond the balance of your first mortgage, your total loan amount could…

Is There A Santa Bubble With Mortgage Rates?

By Scott Sheldon / December 16, 2015

Each year in the wintertime interest rates tend to worsen about .25% across-the-board. Here is what it may mean for your home loan application… Beginning each year around December 5, mortgage rates typically, worsen due to heavy bond market activity and the trend continues till approximately January 15 where rates trail back down. Consumer confidence…