The Mortgage Files

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

Rate Buydowns in Sonoma County: What Buyers Need to Know in 2026

By sonomacountym / September 17, 2026

Rate buydowns can lower a Sonoma County home payment, but temporary and permanent options work very differently. Learn what to compare before you commit.

These mortgage scenarios will almost always mean paying discount points

By Scott Sheldon / December 19, 2017

Discount point are nothing more than upfront head you pay to purchase a lower interest rate and subsequently a lower monthly payment. In some case the you may not have a choice to pay discount points. Following are those ways… It is reasonable to assume when refinancing with a lower than 660 credit score on…

Mortgages: How to find the net tangible benefit through the fees, rate and payment

By Scott Sheldon / January 28, 2016

When shopping for a mortgage, it’s critical to have a general understanding of how the fees, rate and payment all connect to your bottom line. Here are tips better to identify your net tangible benefit on a home loan… Rates & fees The cost of an interest rate (mortgage pricing) moves with ebb and flow…