The Mortgage Files

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

How fha loans treat border income

New FHA Guidelines: How to Use Boarder Income to Qualify for a Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / September 3, 2025

For years, one of the most frustrating limitations in FHA lending was the inability to use boarder income—that is, rent paid by someone living in your home—to help qualify for a mortgage. Fortunately, that has now changed. With the release of HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-04, FHA has introduced updates that allow for the use of…

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A modern two-story suburban home with blue-gray siding and white trim is shown at sunset, framed by a calm sky and soft lighting. Bold navy blue text over the image reads, “Here’s a Better Way to Think About It,” making it a visually inviting blog post header about real estate strategy.

Thinking of Lowballing Because the House Needs Work? Here’s the Reality.

By Scott Sheldon / July 15, 2025

Here’s a Better Way to Think About It If the home just hit the market—say it’s been listed for less than 30 days—it’s still considered “fresh.” In that case, offering within 5% of the list price is a good rule of thumb if you want to be taken seriously and still have room to negotiate.…

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