The Mortgage Files

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

accurate mortgage rates

Why the Media is Not Your Friend When It Comes to Mortgage Rates

By Scott Sheldon / August 7, 2024

When it comes to understanding mortgage rates, relying solely on media sources can be misleading. The best barometer for where mortgage rates truly stand is the actual source: FreddieMac.com. This is the entity that buys the loans made and sold by mortgage aggregators. When you see headlines claiming that interest rates are lower or have…

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How to position your mortgage pre-approval against rising rates

Position your pre-approval against rising rates

By Scott Sheldon / March 27, 2022

The inflationary environment that we are in, coupled with the supply chain, and rising prices of food and energy, all have contributed to higher costs for about every economic resource. Interest rates are no exception. Interest rates are up one day down the next based on worldly and historic events. If you’re pre-approved for a…

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Does the Federal Reserve make mortgage rates go up or down?

Does the Federal Reserve make mortgage rates go up or down?

By Scott Sheldon / March 20, 2022

It’s no secret unless you’ve been living under a rock, that the Federal Reserve almost for certain is going to raise interest rates in March of 2022. The question then becomes if the Fed raises rates, what happens with mortgage rates? Well, the answer just might surprise you. Most people think when the Federal Reserve…

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mortgage after loan modification

Mortgage after loan modification? Here’s how…

By Scott Sheldon / April 19, 2016

One of the challenges many homeowners faced in the recession was financial hardships. Loan modifications were often a short term solutions banks used for homeowners facing delinquency, income changes, or loss of home-equity. If you’ve had a loan modification in your past here’s what you need to know… What is a loan modification? A loan…

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These ridiculous things could be needed to buy a home

These ridiculous things could be needed to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / March 27, 2016

It is no secret getting approved for a mortgage loan requires a fair amount of paperwork. Here is what you should know if there if there is anything questionable in your past… When you apply for a mortgage for the first time or you’re a little rusty on the process, it’s reasonable to expect some…

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Scott Sheldon's The Mortgage FIles Blog

Why Mortgage Rates Are Not All The Same

By Scott Sheldon / July 22, 2012

Purchasing a home or refinancing a mortgage? Now is a fantastic time to consider taking out a home loan. Mortgage rates are still at ridiculous lows and home affordability has never been more attractive. The question everybody asks when getting a mortgage is “what interest rate am I going to get or what is your…

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