The Mortgage Files
Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.
My credit score is 620, what type of mortgage can I qualify for?
You are in luck! A middle 620 credit score or higher is needed for a conventional loan with at least 20% down. This could be your own funds or the funds can come in the form of a gift from family or close friends. This would typically be a non-mortgage insurance loan such as a…
Read More about My credit score is 620, what type of mortgage can I qualify for?How Higher Mortgage Rates Affect Payment
Purchasing a home or refinancing a home loan? If the interest rate is not locked, be prepared to watch the market very closely with your mortgage company. On closing escrow: Shorter term -consider moving into locking status as rates are volatile Longer term -take the position of floating as strong economic indicators point to improving…
Read More about How Higher Mortgage Rates Affect PaymentMortgage Insurance: Consumer Tips On PMI & Advoidance
Mortgage Insurance is like the plague to a monthly mortgage payment. It makes the cost of homeownership rise over time, only benefits one party… the lender. Mortgage insurance also known as private mortgage insurance (PMI) is an intergal component of many popular loan programs today; FHA Mortgages, USDA Mortgages and yes even standard Conventional Mortgages.…
Read More about Mortgage Insurance: Consumer Tips On PMI & AdvoidanceComparing Mortgages: Why Typical Rate Shopping Is Subjective
As mortgage rates remain favorable, more consumers are rate savvy and rightfully so. Everybody wants to make sure they’re getting a competitive combination of rate and associated costs in their purchase or refinance loan. Comparing mortgages, doing true apples to apples comparisons can be quite time-consuming and nonetheless labor-intensive. Typical Way Consumers Shop Mortgages Most…
Read More about Comparing Mortgages: Why Typical Rate Shopping Is SubjectiveDo I really need to get a second pre-approval when buying a house?
In short sometimes. Here’s what happens, the bank that owns the property is typically trying to control the transaction both on the listing side as well as on the buying side. Example-a bank such as Bank of America owns a house, in order for them to even consider looking at your purchase offer, they will…
Read More about Do I really need to get a second pre-approval when buying a house?Will "Qualified Mortgages" Help Consumers?
On January 10, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unveiled new rules to help protect consumers from unscrupulous mortgage lending. These rules implement underwriting criteria what constitutes a “qualified mortgage”. As long as the mortgage lender meets certain criteria, the consumer cannot sue a lender for not verifying income, providing a loan to a consumer…
Read More about Will "Qualified Mortgages" Help Consumers?How Loan To Value Affects Interest Rate
Many of the mortgages being made today contain higher loan to values. These loans contain inherent “risk based pricing” which causes the rates to change. What is loan to value anyway? The loan to value (LTV) is defined as the amount of money you’re borrowing against the value of your the property expressed as a…
Read More about How Loan To Value Affects Interest RateWhat exactly is a large cash deposit going into my bank account?
Large cash deposits have to be sourced and paper trailedwhether doing a purchase or refinance transaction. One of the things lenders are required to do is source all money used in a transaction even funds not being used for the transaction. For example if you’re making $5000 a month and you get a deposit in…
Read More about What exactly is a large cash deposit going into my bank account?