The Mortgage Files

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

Why The House Down Street Will Not Affect My Refinance?

By Scott Sheldon / December 2, 2013

Refinancing your home is based upon a variety of current listings as well as closed sales around your property. In most circumstances,  appraiser will look for comparable data in a half mile radius from the subject property, your home. They will take into consideration the main facts, lot size, property square footage, bedrooms and bathrooms…

Where is The Best Place To Shop Mortgage Rates?

By Scott Sheldon / November 20, 2013

This is the mother lode question on every consumer’s mind seeking mortgage loan financing. Everybody wants to get the lowest and best possible interest rate for their mortgage right? Obviously, the lowest possible interest rate and least possible cost is ideal. The cold reality is that after you close escrow rates can drop below what…

Why Does Your Mortgage Loan Disclosures Show Higher Closing Costs?

By Scott Sheldon / November 11, 2013

In most cases the closing costs are not actually higher, although they appear that way due to accounting for reoccurring costs such as mortgage interest, property taxes and fire insurance. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts let’s go over closing costs…. Re-occurring Vs. Non-reoccuring Closing Costs Recurring Closing Costs: are the carrying costs…

Looking To Refinance An Investment Property, not Harp 2 Eligible?

By Scott Sheldon / November 4, 2013

If  you’re looking to refinance an investment property in Santa Rosa or the Sonoma County surrounding area and your loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the property will have to appraise for market value. Here’s the catch, investment properties require a minimum of 20% equity as well as other lending criteria.…

Why does my lender keep sending me loan disclosures?

By Scott Sheldon / October 16, 2013

Mortgage lenders are under incredibly tight protection laws from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB.  As a result, lenders must send disclosures every single time there is a change to the loan amount, loan program, fees, apr,  any aspect of the payment including principal and interest, taxes, insurance or mortgage insurance, think  of it like…

How can I change mortgage loan types during the escrow process?

By Scott Sheldon / October 9, 2013

Let’s say, you want to put more down when buying house or your in the process of refinancing and your home appraisal comes in lower. In any case, an event transpires during the loan transaction that causes you to want to switch loan types, can be anything from moving from an FHA Loan, to a…

Where do you guys make home mortgages?

By Scott Sheldon / September 30, 2013

We make residential mortgage loans in the great state of California. More specifically, Sonoma County,California including Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati & Sebastopol, Sonoma and Healdsburg. While our focus is on the Sonoma County market, we do make loans outside of Sonoma County on a regular basis including throughout Northern and Southern California. The…

I have multiple financed properties? Can I still get a mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / September 27, 2013

Yes, while you can still get a mortgage, the overall process might take longer. Here’s why if you live in Santa Rosa or Sonoma County, and own multiple financed properties as in more than four financed properties, your lender must put each and every property on the loan application under the schedule of real estate…