The Mortgage Files

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

Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Should I get a mortgage rate quote for a refinance from my current lender?

By Scott Sheldon / December 10, 2012

Many Big mortgage lenders who service loans and originate loans such as Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank of America etc. will many times offer sales promotions to their loan servicing channel. If you ever receive a phone call from your current mortgage lender offering your mortgage rate quote or refinance or telling you there is a…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Why Can't I Get The Refi Mortgage Rate I Saw In The News?

By Scott Sheldon / December 8, 2012

“Why can’t I get the mortgage rate for my refinance I saw in the news?” This question is asked on a daily basis. When you as a homeowner have a mortgage and are paying a certain percentage of the money you originally borrowed, you’re always going to be paying a little closer attention to those…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

What loan programs are available to help me refinance if I'm underwater,my loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?

By Scott Sheldon / November 1, 2012

If your loan is ineligible for the HARP 2 refinance program, you do have options. If you live in Sonoma County, or Santa Rosa or a the surrounding areas, you can refinance your loan for up to 97% of the current appraised value. You be looking most likely using a government loan which has a…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Which Mortgage Company For My Home Loan?

By Scott Sheldon / October 28, 2012

How to select the right mortgage company for competitive rates. Choosing the right mortgage company to handle your loan is much easier said than done. Mortgage companies have so many designations, “mortgage broker”, “mortgage lender”, “mortgage bank” and then there’s individual banks and local credit unions. Begin by understanding the differences between the various mortgage…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

We we choose to do a first and second mortgage to avoid PMI my broker told me the 1st loan can have a fixed rate but the 2nd loan has to be a variable rate. Is this true. I wish that we could have both at fixed interest rates.

By Scott Sheldon / October 15, 2012

The answer is no, you do not need to have a second adjustable-rate mortgage. You  are entitled to having a fixed rate second mortgage just as you are an adjustable rate note. While this is true, there are not many second lenders out there that offer fixed rate seconds paying principal and interest over time.…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Does monthly mortgage insurance last for the life of the loan?

By Scott Sheldon / August 28, 2012

Monthly mortgage insurance can usually be removed at 20% equity if you have a conventional loan. The mortgage lender must remove the mortgage insurance at 22% equity.if you feel you have 20% equity in your property and your currently paying monthly mortgage insurance, contact your mortgage lender and request they remove the monthly mortgage insurance.…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

My mom is behind on her mortgage payment. How long does she have to wait to get a mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / August 13, 2012

To secure mortgage loan today, you can have no thirty-day mortgage leads in the last 12 months. Your mom will have to wait a period of one year to be able to secure mortgage loan financing.

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