The Mortgage Files

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

Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

HARP After HAMP: How To Refinance After A Recent Loan Modification

By Scott Sheldon / June 9, 2013

Homeowners who went through difficult financial times in recent years, actually can still refinance their homes so long as their situations have changed for the better.  Many banks offered loan modifications to homeowners who otherwise couldn’t refinance due to equity position or repayment ability.  Two government programs have helped homeowners stay in their home and/or…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

What Internet Only Lenders Won't You: How They Really Operate

By Scott Sheldon / May 26, 2013

Obtaining a home loan requires careful consideration of not only the costs involved, but where your loan is being originated. When people think “mortgages”, they usually think of their local bank or a mortgage broker. Internet only lenders are also in the competitive mix, aggressively promoting ultra-low rates aimed at the masses. Because an internet…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Why am I being quoted a higher rate on my Harp 2 Refinance? I see 30 year fixed mortgages rates at 3.5%!

By Scott Sheldon / January 15, 2013

Anyone who is looking at the Harp 2 Refinance Program, stands to benefit by a tremendous amount of money. Interest rate savings of over 1% at the minimum coupled with minimum monthly payment savings of at least $300 per month or more are very common. Because this program ignores loan-to-value, which is considered an integral…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

How Loan To Value Affects Interest Rate

By Scott Sheldon / January 6, 2013

Many of the mortgages being made today contain higher loan to values. These loans contain inherent “risk based pricing” which causes the rates to change. What is loan to value anyway? The loan to value (LTV) is defined as the amount of money you’re borrowing against the value of your the property expressed as a…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Higher Mortgage Rates For Conforming High Balance Mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / December 18, 2012

If you are in the market for a mortgage refinance or home purchase, plan to pay more if you are borrowing more than the conforming loan limit. The national conforming loan limit for the best mortgage rates is $417,000 extending through December 31, 2013. If your loan is up to $417,000 or lower, generally you’ll…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Should I get a mortgage rate quote for a refinance from my current lender?

By Scott Sheldon / December 10, 2012

Many Big mortgage lenders who service loans and originate loans such as Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank of America etc. will many times offer sales promotions to their loan servicing channel. If you ever receive a phone call from your current mortgage lender offering your mortgage rate quote or refinance or telling you there is a…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

What Sonoma County loan programs are available for little or no down payment?

By Scott Sheldon / November 6, 2012

Great question There are several different programs which would help you decide on purchase price, and monthly payment and certainly loan qualifying. The minimum down payment to purchase a house anywhere in Sonoma County’s 3.5% which would be on an FHA insured government loan program. If your income is $92,000 per year or lower, and…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

We we choose to do a first and second mortgage to avoid PMI my broker told me the 1st loan can have a fixed rate but the 2nd loan has to be a variable rate. Is this true. I wish that we could have both at fixed interest rates.

By Scott Sheldon / October 15, 2012

The answer is no, you do not need to have a second adjustable-rate mortgage. You  are entitled to having a fixed rate second mortgage just as you are an adjustable rate note. While this is true, there are not many second lenders out there that offer fixed rate seconds paying principal and interest over time.…

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