The Mortgage Files

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

What to know about low score mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / July 26, 2016

Credit scores play a vital role in your ability to get a home mortgage. Here’s what you need to know if you are applying with a low credit score… First things first credit scores are used to predict the likelihood of a payment default in the next 60 days. A lower credit score will result…

3 things you will not like about today’s mortgage process

By Scott Sheldon / July 19, 2016

These things about today’s mortgage loan process will drive you crazy. Know what lenders will want…. Patriot Act This says lenders do not make loans to drug dealers, money launderers or terrorists.  Obviously, 99.9% of today’s mortgage loan borrowers are completely on the up and up. However, this does not change the fact mortgage lenders…

Can you really afford the home? Here is what banks will not share

By Scott Sheldon / June 21, 2016

Just because the bank will let you buy more does not mean you should. Be a well informed home buyer by taking the following tips into consideration when making the big ticket decision… Banks are for profit. They make money by making loans and it is up to you the consumer to decide when, how…

How mortgage lender can make a loan work when another cannot

By Scott Sheldon / May 20, 2016

Ever work with a mortgage company to later on find your loan won’t work, and another delivers? There’s a reason for it. Here’s what you should know about mortgage companies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has safeguards in place to make sure mortgage companies operate off of a level playing field with consumers. The level…

Yes you don’t need tax returns to get a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / May 16, 2016

If you were planning to buy a home or refinance one you already own, expect a lot of paperwork. Here’s one thing you probably didn’t know – tax returns are not required all the time. Are you self-employed or W-2? If you are a W-2 wage earner there is lower likelihood for needing to provide…

New underwriting guidelines coming June 25 may change your mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / April 28, 2016

New changes coming to Fannie Mae’s automated underwriting system June 25 could change the way you get a mortgage. Here’s how… Fannie Mae has announced the way they look at credit is about to change for all loan applications dated June 25, 2016 or after. Lenders use Fannie Mae’s automated underwriting system (Desktop Underwriter) for…

Mortgage after loan modification? Here’s how…

By Scott Sheldon / April 19, 2016

One of the challenges many homeowners faced in the recession was financial hardships. Loan modifications were often a short term solutions banks used for homeowners facing delinquency, income changes, or loss of home-equity. If you’ve had a loan modification in your past here’s what you need to know… What is a loan modification? A loan…

Buy a condo or a single family home?

By Scott Sheldon / April 8, 2016

When the time homes to buy your first home, you will have options galore. Here’s how to decide if you should purchase a single-family home or a more affordable condominium unit. Undoubtedly, buying a home is without doubt the largest financial decision you’ll probably make in your lifetime. It is critical to make sure the…