The Mortgage Files

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

Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

How To Get A Mortgage Loan Post Short Sale, Foreclosure or Bankrucpty Revisited

By Scott Sheldon / June 10, 2012

Not a week goes by when we are not asked “how soon can you buy a home or refinance a mortgage with a previous foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy”. As the market continues to improve, many people are still seeking mortgage loans. Home buying opportunities have never been more affordable coupled with the low interest…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Sonoma County Home Loans: Mortgage Insurance 101

By Scott Sheldon / March 25, 2012

Mortgage Insurance is the dreaded monthly cost mortgage lenders put on borrowers looking to purchase or refinance with lower equity. Mortgage insurance, while it is an added cost, is not necessarily the evil it once was. While it is true, mortgage insurance does affect the total mortgage payment, the loan programs that contain monthly mortgage…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

HARP: Making Homes Affordable Aka The Underwater Refinance

By Scott Sheldon / March 19, 2012

Many Sonoma County Loans have been denied due to loan-to-value restrictions imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and an overall tight credit market. Last year the Obama administration announced the no loan to value refinance program for loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. For the last several months, many have…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Home Loan Denied: Consider Re-Applying With A Different Mortgage Company

By Scott Sheldon / February 20, 2012

Getting your home loan request denied, is certainly not a fun thing to deal with. Lots of times certain mortgage companies have internal mortgage loan underwriting requirements which might be more constrictive than a competitor of theirs. Not every mortgage company has the same set of guidelines and standards. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Getting A Home Loan: Watch Out On Your Income Tax Return

By Scott Sheldon / February 6, 2012

Thinking about getting a mortgage loan? If that is a yes, purchase or a refinance mortgage, make sure your federal income tax returns are clean. Mortgage lenders will run a fine tooth comb through your federal income tax return looking for any losses in income which reduces your ability to qualify. Getting a home loan…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Higher FHA Loan Limits ARE Back !!!!!!!!!!!!

By Scott Sheldon / December 7, 2011

The temporary FHA Loan Limits were reduced on October 1, 2011 as Congress elected to not renew them. The county by county loan limits were reduced to original loan limits which were upwards of $100,000 or more less per county. Congress re-evaluates! Congress has reevaluated their decision and have agreed to reinstate the previous loan…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Buying A House Even If You Are Underwater

By Scott Sheldon / November 21, 2011

For every homeowner who is upside down on their mortgage, this is for you. An upside down mortgage is when somebody owes more on their mortgage balance than their home is worth, hence the term underwater. People who are underwater on their mortgage have limited options unless their mortgage loan is owned by Fannie Mae…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Conventional Mortgage Loan Updates

By Scott Sheldon / October 11, 2011

Getting conventional financing? How about a 15 year fixed-rate mortgage or a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage? Depending on your loan to value, new underwriting guidelines might affect your ability to get financing. This is update is accordance with purchases and refinances. Following are some of the conventional mortgage loan updates as of October 8, 2011.…

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