The Mortgage Files

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

Illustration of a house with a credit report and an appraisal document symbolizing the two main mortgage loan obstacles.

The Only Three Real Obstacles in the Loan Process: Credit/Income and Appraisal

By Scott Sheldon / October 30, 2025

For many homebuyers, getting a mortgage can feel like navigating a maze of paperwork and requirements. There are phone calls to return, documents to upload, and deadlines to meet. But when you boil it down, there are really only two key hurdles that can stop a loan from closing: the borrower’s credit and income, and…

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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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