The Mortgage Files

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

Selecting The Right Home Loan Program

By Scott Sheldon / September 14, 2011

With the small variety of home loan programs available today selecting the right home loan program is easier now more than ever. There are lots of different options available for both purchases and refinances. For this blog post we are going to be discussing purchase loan programs. With a decent credit score, documented job stability/income…

Navigate Through The Home Loan Process

By Scott Sheldon / September 7, 2011

Congratulations your offer has been accepted and you are now officially “in contract.” Within the next 30 days you will have your keys to your home and your Santa Rosa Mortgage will be in place. That’s down the road, right now there’s several things we need to be focused on to avoid a course correction…

Escrows & Impounds – The Bottom Line

By Scott Sheldon / September 2, 2011

Everyone hates paying property taxes. Property taxes are due twice a year on April 10 and on December 10. So if you have a mortgage in place already or are thinking about getting one, consider getting an escrow account set up a monthly basis. This will help you secure the best possible interest rate. Escrow…

Mortgage Tip: Internet Lenders …Know The Risks

By Scott Sheldon / September 1, 2011

Getting a Sonoma County Mortgage Loan requires careful consideration of not only the costs involved, but where you go to actually obtain financing. When people think of a mortgage they usually think of their local bank or a mortgage broker. Independent direct lenders are often lumped together with brokers because each is a paid to…

Refinancing With Your Current Lender Is NOT Always Easier

By Scott Sheldon / August 26, 2011

Searching for a competitive mortgage rate and terms can certainly be challenging in today’s lending world. Mortgage rates are presently at historic lows and there is even greater opportunity to aggressively pay down your mortgage balance. So where do you go to secure the best possible interest rate on that new mortgage loan? Well…banks create…

How To Get Rid of That Mortgage Insurance PMI!

By Scott Sheldon / August 13, 2011

You can get rid of mortgage insurance PMI sooner than waiting the full 30 years on that loan! Lots of people considering taking out a mortgage whether it be purchasing or refinancing, do not want to pay mortgage insurance. The reality is MI is due to economic factors beyond our control. Mortgage insurance is required…

*Mortgage Tip: How To Get Best Rates For Jumbo Loans

By Scott Sheldon / August 7, 2011

Here’s a mortgage tip: if you are looking for the best interest rate on a Jumbo Loan consider a 5, 7, or 10 year product. The availability of Jumbo Loans in Sonoma County through a Fannie/Freddie Lender have nearly evaporated since 2007. However in the last several months, Jumbo have re-emerged as an available product…

How To Select The Right Mortgage Company

By Scott Sheldon / July 29, 2011

Understanding the mortgage providers are, will help you select the right mortgage company. There are lots of different mortgage companies available to choose from in today’s lending environment. These sources include private mortgage banks or depository institutions. There are also individual private parties otherwise known as hard money, but for these purposes we will be…