The Mortgage Files

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

Why rising interest rates can be good news for some homebuyers

Why rising interest rates can be good news for some homebuyers

By Scott Sheldon / August 20, 2023

Rising interest rates, for some homebuyers, can be beneficial. While it is true, rising interest rates do diminish purchasing power for the right situation, it actually could be beneficial. Here is what to know… Most people look at the big picture. They look at interest rates, the cost of funds and make a determination about…

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Should you buy a single family or mobile home?

What type of mortgage lender are you looking for?

By Scott Sheldon / February 13, 2022

Not all mortgage companies are the same. What type of lender or mortgage professional you work with can make the difference between you being successful in your home-buying endeavor or not. You want a lender, or someone working on your behalf who has the “whatever it takes” approach to helping you with financing. No matter…

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Could there be a real estate market crash?

Could there be a real estate market crash

By Scott Sheldon / October 27, 2021

Could there be a real estate market crash? The so-called financial experts have predicted this since 2008, since the last financial crisis. Are we in a housing bubble? And what should you do as it pertains to purchasing a home if you’ve been on the fence?   Here are some things to be aware of…

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New Jobs and Mortgages

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…

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how to buy a home and make your offer stronger

How to spruce up your offer to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / May 18, 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 within your budget… Let’s say as a result the house you could afford is say $650k. For whatever reason, you…

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Exterior of New Home

How to decide the right time to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / October 22, 2020

One of the challenges people have when deciding to purchase a house is trying to pinpoint the right time to make the move. Everyone is in a different stage of life and pinpointing the optimal time can be a little bit tricky depending on one’s personal finances. Here are some things to consider when deciding…

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How to use seller carry financing to purchase a house with less cash down

Don’t make this home buying when negotiating the purchase price of a house

By Scott Sheldon / March 12, 2020

Buying a home is a high ticket purchase. It requires careful planning and due diligence. One of the biggest factors of buying a home is taking into consideration all the various reports, dates, and deadlines. It can be quite an ordeal of a process if it’s not handled correctly. Here is what to know… One…

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This FHA requirement might hurt your multi unit home buying chances

This FHA requirement might hurt your multi unit home buying chances

By Scott Sheldon / September 13, 2019

One of the perks of getting an FHA mortgage is the ability to purchase a primary home using just 3.5% down. The math however will change if you’re buying a multi-family property… You heard that correctly. You can buy a multifamily property using an FHA-insured loan up to four units with just 3.5% down. The…

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