The Mortgage Files

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

Can You Have Two FHA Loans at Once? What Homebuyers Need to Know Before Keeping Their Current Home

By Scott Sheldon / May 27, 2026

Can You Have Two FHA Loans at Once? What Homebuyers Need to Know Before Keeping Their Current Home One of the most common questions homebuyers ask is: “Can I keep my current FHA home as a rental and buy another house using a new FHA loan?” At first glance, it sounds reasonable. Maybe your current…

Manufactured Homes: Why the June 15, 1976 Build Date Matters More Than You Think

By Scott Sheldon / May 20, 2026

If you are thinking about buying a manufactured home, one of the most important details to understand is the year the home was built. That single factor can dramatically affect your financing options, interest rate, resale value, and even how easy it may be to sell the property later. Many buyers see an older manufactured…

What Income Do You Need to Buy a Home in Sonoma County in 2026?

By Scott Sheldon / May 13, 2026

Let’s walk through this in a real, practical way—because the question isn’t just “can you buy?” It’s “can you buy comfortably?” In Sonoma County, that answer depends on three key things: Home pricesInterest ratesYour debt and lifestyle Right now, the market is more balanced than it’s been in years. Homes are sitting longer, and buyers…

How to Build Cash Flow and Equity

By Scott Sheldon / April 22, 2026

Fixer Upper vs Turnkey Rental: How to Build Cash Flow and Equity (Part 2) In the first part, we talked about how tenants think and why a home doesn’t need to be perfect to be a strong rental. Now let’s take it a step further. This is where the real strategy comes in—how price, repairs,…

Turnkey vs. Fixer Rentals: What Smart Investors Actually Know

By Scott Sheldon / April 15, 2026

Let’s start with a simple scenario. You’re looking at two homes. One is fully updated, clean, and ready to go—but it comes with a higher price and higher monthly payment. The other needs some work—maybe paint, flooring, or a few updates—but it’s priced lower. Which one is the better investment? From experience as a landlord,…

Why Timing the Housing Market Doesn’t Work (And What Actually Does)

By Scott Sheldon / April 9, 2026

Let’s start with a simple idea: trying to perfectly time the housing market is not a winning strategy. It sounds good in theory. Wait for rates to drop. Wait for prices to fall. Wait for the “right moment.” But here’s the reality—no one consistently gets that timing right. Not individual buyers. Not seasoned investors. Not…

Cash-Out Refinance vs. Borrowing from Family: Which Is the Smarter Move?

By Scott Sheldon / April 2, 2026

You’ve built equity in your home. Maybe a lot of it. At the same time, you need access to cash—whether that’s to consolidate debt, invest in real estate, fund a business, or handle a life event. Now you’re standing at a fork in the road: Do you tap into your home equity with a cash-out…

Why Who You Use for a Mortgage Matters More Than the Rate

By Scott Sheldon / March 18, 2026

Who you use for a mortgage loan matters. Let’s walk through a very real scenario that happens all the time when someone is considering refinancing their home. Imagine you currently have a 6.25% conventional mortgage. You’re looking at refinancing because you see interest rates drifting lower. You call a lender and they quote you 5.25%.…