The Mortgage Files

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

Mortgage Word Cloud Art

Why your income is your lifeline to finance a home

By Scott Sheldon / January 23, 2020

Getting mortgage loan financing requires you providing a blend of good cash, ample credit, and income to offset a proposed new expense i.e. a mortgage loan. You must have the right blend of all three in order to purchase or refinance a home. What might not make sense however is the lifeline that’s going to…

Read More
2020 Conforming Loan Limits Increaase

New loan limits for 2020 makes getting a mortgage easier

By Scott Sheldon / December 1, 2019

The Federal Housing Finance Agency which oversees loans bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced to change to the conforming loan limit last week. Here’s what the change means for you… Every year the Federal Housing Finance Agency releases its loan limits for the next year. Over the last 4 years, the agency has…

Read More
6 common mortgage loan scenarios you cannot circumnavigate

Should you Cash out refinance and remodel or buy another property?

By Scott Sheldon / November 10, 2019

Homeowners who have outgrown their houses may be considering the possibility of buying another property or just staying put and remodeling the one they already have. Here are some things to consider if you’re trying to determine what makes the most financial sense… When you buy your first home you might not be thinking about…

Read More
8 common mortgage mistakes consumer ask about

8 common mortgage misconceptions most consumers ask about

By Scott Sheldon / October 13, 2019

The internet is full of information about purchasing or refinancing a house. Some of it tangible some of it not worth the paper it’s written on. Here are seven of the most common misconceptions with regards to getting a mortgage… Pulling credit for a mortgage automatically tanks your credit score. The reality of it is…

Read More
Why the purchase price in a real estate transaction should not be the single most important factor

Why the purchase price should not be the single most important factor

By Scott Sheldon / September 8, 2019

When buying a home most would believe the number one most important thing you need to be focused on is what you pay for the house. Mom and dad who bought their house years ago, Grandma and Grandpa who bought their house back in the early 1980s when housing prices were $40,000 all have an…

Read More
How to avoid getting a jumbo loan due to Coronavirus

Here are 2 mortgage process problems you will want to avoid

By Scott Sheldon / July 28, 2019

Securing mortgage loan financing is the cornerstone of financial prosperity in America. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever take on your life. Here’s watch to avoid when applying for a high-ticket mortgage… Make no mistake the way mortgage companies must originate loans is 100% controlled by the federal government. That means the “asks”…

Read More
How to use seller carry financing to purchase a house with less cash down

The number one mistake you don’t want to make when getting a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / July 7, 2019

It may seem for some families like purchasing a refinancing a house is an endless amount of paperwork. To most people the mortgage process probably is that complex. Here’s what you need to know when it comes time to getting a mortgage and the number one thing that you want to make sure to avoid…

Read More
Self Employed Borrowers

Here is a legit non-traditional income program for self-employed mortgage borrowers

By Scott Sheldon / June 30, 2019

Traditionally, self-employed mortgage borrowers are more heavily scrutinized by mortgage companies because of their gyrating income. If their business stops the revenue stops and their ability to make a mortgage payment could be impacted. That’s the rationale behind why lenders look at self-employed borrowers more stringently. Lenders request both personal and or corporate returns from…

Read More