The Mortgage Files

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

How to set realistic expectation for yourself when deciding to buy a home

How to set realistic expectation for yourself when deciding to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / July 30, 2023

If you’re looking to purchase a house you need to be all in. That means you need to surrender to the expectations your realtor and lender have laid out for you so you can be successful. If you’re thinking about buying a house here are some things to consider… Your realtor and your lender are…

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How different mortgage loan types impact how much money you can get for seller credits

How different mortgage loan types impact how much money you can get for seller credits

By Scott Sheldon / July 16, 2023

If you’re thinking about buying a home and you’re short on cash, here are a few things you might want to consider as it relates to downpayment and closing costs… There are two main mortgage types; government-backed loans, and government-insured loans. Government-backed loans are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while government-insured loans are FHA &…

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Should you buy a house or wait for the market to improve?

5 signs you should wait to buy a house

By Scott Sheldon / June 25, 2023

If you’re thinking about buying a home, but you’re just not sure. You’re probably better off listening to your gut. That looming credit card debt, or personal loan, that you just can’t seem to kick whatever the case may be here are five reasons you might want to think about waiting to purchase a home…

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Here’s how to buy a house even if you think your income may not qualify

Here’s how to buy a house even if you think your income may not qualify

By Scott Sheldon / June 18, 2023

If you’re looking to get prequalified to buy a home, one of the main elements, a lender will use to determine your ability to afford that home is your income. Your gross monthly income from your W-2 wages or your net income from your tax returns is what the lender will use as a basis…

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How hourly wages impact mortgage loan approvals

Why hourly wage earners sometimes have a hard time getting a home loan

By Scott Sheldon / May 9, 2023

You’re all excited to purchase your first home, you have a good job, you have a good down payment, and you’ve got a good credit score. What could go wrong, right? Here’s an occurrence that happens pretty frequently you might not know about and more specifically what to do about it as it relates to…

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How to avoid common self employed mortgage mistakes

By Scott Sheldon / April 30, 2023

If you’re self-employed and trying to get prequalified to buy a home period it is not only the income you show on paper,  the total picture matters. Here’s what you need to know if you self employed and applying for a mortgage loan… You’re your own boss, you don’t work for anyone else, and you…

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fha rule mortgage loan

This FHA lender rule could be problematic for your mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / March 26, 2023

If you’re applying for a residential mortgage loan and you’re looking at an FHA loan to purchase or refinance a home this lender requirement could be problematic for you as it relates to qualifying… All FHA Mortgage Lenders in the United States use a system by Hud called FHA Connection.  Its database is used to…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums reduced by 30 basis points-what this means for consumers

By Scott Sheldon / March 5, 2023

For folks looking to purchase or refinance a home with the FHA Loan, the Federal Housing Administration has just announced a reduction to their private mortgage insurance premiums by 30 basis points. This is a step in the right direction to help drive home ownership. Here is what this means for your bottom line… Presently…

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