The Mortgage Files

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

How Covid_19 completely changed mortgage rates

By Scott Sheldon / August 14, 2021

It is no surprise Covid has influenced mortgage interest rates in the last 12 months. The coronavirus and its effect on the economy in particular the financial markets have been unprecedented, to say the least. Here’s how covid changed interest rates and what you can expect going forward if you’ve been thinking about refinancing a…

Why most financial experts get mortgages wrong

By Scott Sheldon / July 18, 2021

There’s so much financial misinformation online it’s inundating. Here are some things the experts say as it relates to housing and mortgages for you to consider when trying to get financially ahead… You have to put down 20% to purchase a house  The reality is nothing could be further from the truth. They say this…

Borrowing a down payment to buy a home? Watch our for these two retirement accounts

By Scott Sheldon / July 12, 2021

One of the best things you can do to proactively position you and your family to buy a home is to borrow money from your 401K after all, it’s your money. If you’re thinking about pulling money from retirement to buy a home here’s what you need to know and the 2 types of accounts…

Can you get a mortgage with a brand new job or a recent raise?

By Scott Sheldon / June 14, 2021

One of the most important things consumers have to deal with when securing mortgage loan financing besides having a good credit score and a good down payment is having income to actually offset the proposed liability i.e, a  mortgage payment. Income is single-handedly the most important thing because it drives affordability. Lenders and banks know…

Why you should not hesitate on making offer to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / May 12, 2021

Let’s say if you are in the market to be buying a home. In the current environment here some things you might want to be aware of with regards to acting on a house that’s affordable and within your budget… You have found the family home that you could afford and it is priced at…

Can you realistically buy a home with no money down?

By Scott Sheldon / May 5, 2021

In order to be successful in real estate, you need to take the advice of a good quality lender experienced in the local area in which looking to purchase. While it is possible to secure a no down payment program, closing on a home in this unique real estate market is another matter. Following is…

Should you buy an existing home or build a new one?

By Scott Sheldon / April 28, 2021

In this environment, it’s no easy feat to get your foot in the door with real estate. You really have to avenues buy a house already in existence or build a new one. Here’s the skinny on both… Building a home  Building a house is not for the faint of heart.  It requires a considerable…

The 3 different types of home buyers

By Scott Sheldon / March 12, 2021

In today’s market to be successful in getting mortgage financing you need to be realistic about what you can afford what you can expand and what your financial situation will support. Hear 3 different ways to look at buying a home so you can figure out where you are in the bigger picture of things…