The Mortgage Files

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

Government Loans: To FHA or USDA

By Scott Sheldon / July 1, 2012

Any home buyer putting less than 20% down today has probably been offered or researched the possibility of using a government loan to buy a home. Government loans offer flexible financing alternatives to the standard 20% down conventional loan. Although government loans do contain monthly mortgage insurance, these options allow for a more complete story…

How The Delayed Financing Rule Works: The Buy & Refi Solution

By Scott Sheldon / June 24, 2012

In 2011, Fannie Mae introduced to the mortgage market, the Delayed Financing Rule, effectively allowing a home buyer to pay cash for a property and then immediately re-mortgage that money back post closing on a new refinance transaction. Since 2011, Fannie Mae has been offering this product, but hasn’t had much effect in Sonoma County…

Buying A House: What To Expect

By Scott Sheldon / June 3, 2012

Buying a house is certainly a smart financial move given low mortgage rates and the most affordable home prices, ever.  Each market is different so for our purposes we will be looking at the Sonoma County California housing market. Following is what you can expect if you plan to purchase a house in Sonoma County…

Get Preapproved To Buy A House: Start House Hunting!

By Scott Sheldon / April 29, 2012

Thinking about taking the plunge into the Sonoma County Real Estate Market? Summer is right around the corner and now couldn’t be a better time to get preapproved with a mortgage lender to begin the home search. What you’ll experience as a home buyer in today’s market is a lower inventory of homes for sale…

Mortgage Tip: Buying A House With Ease

By Scott Sheldon / December 27, 2011

Buying a house these days can be a sound financial decision. Low interest rates plus low house prices makes buying a house today something that is within the grasp for many families. As the market has continued to tighten from an underwriting perspective buying a house can be a simple process or it can be…

What Mortgage Lenders Want…CIA Analysis

By Scott Sheldon / September 12, 2011

Mortgage lenders today want to conduct a CIA analysis. A CIA analysis is short for credit income assets. These are the three things that we as mortgage lenders really need to see before we can tell you whether or not we can do a refinance loan or a purchase loan for you. Because I work…

The Difference Between Mortgage Preapproval Vs. Prequalification

By Scott Sheldon / September 5, 2011

The Sonoma County Market is presenting opportunity for those seeking to purchase real estate. For everyone purchasing property with financing listen up because this pertains to you! If you are seeking a mortgage loan and live in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Windsor, Healdsburg, or even Sebastopol.. remember a preapproval letter is what you will need to…

Mortgage Tip: How To Get A Home Mortage Loan Approved Fast

By Scott Sheldon / July 3, 2011

A fast home mortgage loan approval is the focal point of actually getting the loan to close escrow. The home mortgage loan approval is the point in the transaction gives everybody the green light to move forward with obtaining conditions and ordering docs. The best way to get the loan approved as quickly as possible…