The Mortgage Files
Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.
Can’t Afford Sonoma? Why Lake County Might Be the Smartest First-Time Buyer Move in 2025
Can’t Afford Sonoma? Why Lake County Might Be the Smartest First-Time Buyer Move in 2025 If you’ve been eyeing a home in Sonoma County but feel like the numbers just aren’t penciling out, you’re not alone. The truth is, while Sonoma County remains highly desirable, nearby Lake County might just be the hidden gem that…
Read MoreHow seller credit maximize your purchasing power on a conventional or FHA home loan
Maximizing Your Home Buying Power with Seller Credits When purchasing a home, every dollar counts. Whether you’re putting down 3.5% with an FHA loan or opting for a conventional route with 10% or 20% down, understanding how seller credits work can be a game-changer. These credits can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses, lower your monthly…
Read MoreHow to Buy a Home in 2025 Without a Down Payment
How to Buy a Home in 2025 Without a Down Payment Purchasing a home can feel overwhelming, especially when you think about saving for a down payment. However, in 2025, there are multiple programs available that can help you buy a house with little to no upfront costs. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or someone…
Read More4 Signs You’re Not Ready to Buy a House
4 signs you’re not ready to buy a house when it comes to purchasing a home. It’s probably one of the highest-ticket purchases you’ll ever make in life, if not the most high-ticket purchase. You want to, of course, make sure that affordability is number one. This is primary, above all else. However, just because…
Read MoreWhy Renting May Delay Your Home Buying Efforts
Renters everywhere are feeling the constraints of rising rents. Rising rents erodes your ability to save for the cash needed to buy a home. It becomes a catch 22 because the longer you rent the more you need to save in order to offset rent increases while maintaining the rate at which you are saving.…
Read MoreWhat are the initials steps I should take when deciding to get pre-approved to buy a home?
Great question and one that should be handled with the utmost care and integrity. First you need to get prequalified. You need to have a conversation with a mortgage professional about your credit, debt, income and assets. After determining you qualify to purchase a home, the lender would ask you to submit a loan application…
Read MoreWhat? Another pre-approval?
If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Sonoma County be prepared to play the game for another pre-approval. The Sonoma County real estate market is dominated by REO otherwise commonly referred to as bank owned property. These unsold homes sitting on the market are oftentimes controlled by the big banks like Chase, Bofa…
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