The Mortgage Files

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

Does waiting for the right time to buy a home make economic sense?

By Scott Sheldon / October 9, 2022

If you’ve been thinking about whether you should purchase a home, you might want to think about applying with a lender. This helps to get a read on where you are financial picture. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home, but you’re just not quite sure yet here are some things to consider…  …

Should you buy a house in this real estate market?

By Scott Sheldon / October 3, 2022

For many, the idea of buying a home is the American dream. The home purchase needs to be within your monthly budget. Here are things to consider in today’s present real estate market and how you can use those to your financial advantage as it relates to buying a family home… It’s no surprise interest…

2023 Confirming Loan Limit Rise

By Scott Sheldon / September 25, 2022

The federal housing finance agency recently released its 2023 conforming loan limit. The new loan limit for 2023 is $715,000. Here is what this means if you’re purchasing or refinancing a home… Each year the Federal Housing Finance Agency which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac releases its annual loan limit. The annual loan limit…

Ways to handle a mortgage payment when buying a home

By sonomacountym / September 11, 2022

Consumers who are preapproved and looking to buy a home are sometimes getting shell shock as relates to the mortgage payment. The rate, the purchase price, and the cash-to-close may change the cost to buy a home. Here are things you might want to do if you are buying a house… We are presently in…

Should you take out an adjustable rate mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / September 4, 2022

With interest rates as high as they are consumers want adjustable-rate mortgages for payment relief. If you’re thinking about an adjustable-rate mortgage versus a fixed-rate mortgage here are some things, you need to be aware of… The first few years of the mortgage loan are called a teaser rate.  A teaser rate is short-term and…

What are the risks of buying a home?

By Scott Sheldon / August 24, 2022

When you’re buying a home, you should be thinking about not just the purchase price of the house, but you should be really thinking about your household budget. Saving money and being able to have a life without letting debt get the better of you should be a goal as it relates to deciding whether…

Why do mortgage companies have to pull a credit report?

By Scott Sheldon / August 21, 2022

When you apply to purchase or refinance a home the mortgage company is required to pull a copy of your credit report in order to issue a credit decision. Here are things you need to be aware of as it relates to your credit report and credit score from a financial services provider…   The…

Why mortgage rates will not hit 7%

By Scott Sheldon / August 7, 2022

For those consumers out there, who have been on the fence about refinancing their mortgage or buying a home because of concern about interest rates, pay close attention to the facts. The economic drivers of rates are a tall tale sign of the future of mortgage rates… Inflation has driven mortgage rates up in the…