The Mortgage Files

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

Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

What's the best way to determine a breakeven on a santa rosa refinance loan?

By Scott Sheldon / January 6, 2015

This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but the most common way is to take the monthly savings you generate by refinancing your home and divide it into the capital idea closing costs required to complete the refinance. If you can breakeven in 2 to 3 years, this in most cases is normal…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Should I work with a mortgage broker or a mortgage lender?

By Scott Sheldon / December 28, 2014

Depends-primarily on who you feel comfortable with. Let’s be honest, this is the largest transaction most people ever take on in their entire life and should be handled with somebody who knows what they’re doing. A mortgage broker does not control their own money. Instead they act as an intermediary between you the borrower and…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Are There Any Petaluma Mortgages For Loan Sizes Over $520,950?

By Scott Sheldon / September 12, 2014

Yes there are mortgage loan programs that exist for loans bigger than $520,950 in Petaluma and the surrounding areas. If your loan size is bigger than $520,950, your loan is classified as a Jumbo. Jumbo loans traditionally carry more risk to mortgage lenders than loans under that amount, otherwise known as Conventional Loans. However, as…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

How Accurate Are Online Home Value Websites?

By Scott Sheldon / July 31, 2014

This is a topic near and dear to every homeowner. Many real estate websites offer a free online home valuation offering you a glimpse of what your home might be worth. Understand this, each of these websites, use their own proprietary algorithm to give you an idea of what your house might be worth. This…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Why Is My Financed Loan Amount On My FHA Loan Bigger?

By Scott Sheldon / July 28, 2014

Buying or refinancing a home? An FHA loan much like a USDA loan, has two forms of mortgage insurance. There is an upfront mortgage insurance premium, UMFIP for short, which is based upon 1.75% of the base loan amount ( difference between the down payment amount or appraised value relative to equity) which is then…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

How do I make a bi-weekly mortgage payment if my lender won't bill me that way?

By Scott Sheldon / May 15, 2014

This topic comes up frequently. Most lenders will not set up a biweekly mortgage payment Making a biweekly mortgage payment is incredibly beneficial when considering the longer term interest costs over the life of a loan. It’s not uncommon to be able to shave many years off the payoff time by simply making a biweekly…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Do Tax Losses On Closed Business Hurt My Chances To Qualify For A Mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / April 5, 2014

No as long as the business is actually closed it should not hurt your ability to qualify from an income standpoint. For example let’s say you opened up the side business a couple of years ago, claimed some monetary losses on http://bayarearealestatetrends.com/your tax return, but have subsequently closed the business. Lender will not need to…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Should I Pay For An Appraisal To Refinance My Home?

By Scott Sheldon / April 2, 2014

Yes, an appraisal is the only way to determine what your home is worth if your loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac eligible for Harp 2 Refinance. Rewind the clock a couple of years, Sonoma County homeowners had very little equity many were even upside down as real estate sales were…

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