The Mortgage Files

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

What to expect with mortgage rates over the next few months

By Scott Sheldon / November 17, 2019

If you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a new house purchase or a refinance and you’re waiting for an interest rate you may get your wish over the course of the next couple of weeks. That said that’s not without some potential risk you otherwise might incur by waiting for what may or…

No more VA Loan Limits in January 2020!

By Scott Sheldon / October 27, 2019

HR 299 is a new VA Bill recently signed by the president that makes some big changes to VA financing. If you’re thinking about buying a house and you’re an eligible VA mortgage applicant. Here are some things you ought to consider.. VA financing allows you to purchase a house with no money down. Presently…

This FHA requirement might hurt your multi unit home buying chances

By Scott Sheldon / September 13, 2019

One of the perks of getting an FHA mortgage is the ability to purchase a primary home using just 3.5% down. The math however will change if you’re buying a multi-family property… You heard that correctly. You can buy a multifamily property using an FHA-insured loan up to four units with just 3.5% down. The…

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…

What you need to know about the mortgage 4506T document

By Scott Sheldon / July 14, 2019

What you need to know about the mortgage 4506 document when purchasing or refinancing a house When you’re taking on a mortgage to purchase or refinance a property you must provide an ample supply of supporting financial documentation. One such document the lender is going to ask you for is to execute of 4506t document.…

Be careful getting a mortgage if you have a bankruptcy

By Scott Sheldon / May 26, 2019

A bankruptcy can possibly be a detrimental blow to your mortgage chances if it’s not handled in the right way. Following is what you should take into consideration if you have a bankruptcy in your past or will be filing an upcoming bankruptcy… First things first for our purposes we are discussing a Chapter 7…

Here is the magic cash to payment formula to use when buying a home

By Scott Sheldon / April 28, 2019

Buying a house is a large financial investment. People when seeking a mortgage generally are looking to keep their payments as low as possible in relationship to their income and fixed costs. Here’s what you should look for when deciding how much cash you want to put in your home buying project… The general rule…

Why the VA mortgage is the best home loan

By Scott Sheldon / April 9, 2019

If you served in the military a VA mortgage if you can qualify supports, the maximal amount of borrowing power with the lowest possible payment. Here are some things to consider when looking at a VA mortgage… The US Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees loans up to 100% loan to value for purchase rate and…