The Mortgage Files

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

Will Loans With A Few Payments Left Hurt My Home Buying Chances?

By Scott Sheldon / November 20, 2015

If you’re thinking about qualifying for a mortgage, here’s what you must know if you have payments with a few months left to go. Get the facts… When you apply for a mortgage loan, the lender takes in the consideration your credit score, your cash you plan to use to spend on a home, your…

How Generating A Bigger Income Plays A Role In Your Borrowing Power

By Scott Sheldon / November 13, 2015

Ever wonder the best way to gain more control of your debt? A low rate and payment helps, but discipline and smart income choices play an important role as well… Income is a crucial component lenders look at when granting you a mortgage loan. It is the basis by which they are going to get…

Your Student Loan Credit May Secretly Limit Your Mortgage Options

By Scott Sheldon / October 17, 2015

If not handled properly, your student loan may adversely change your home purchase plans. Here’s what you probably don’t know regarding your student loan servicer… Just like any other credit obligation, your student loan servicer reports to the credit bureaus. Even if the payment is deferred, the obligation still reports every 30 days much like…

Five Things Consumer Still Do In The Loan Process That Hurts Their Loan Closing

By Scott Sheldon / October 2, 2015

Lending requirements are starting to loosen, and gone are the days of overly stringent mortgage underwriting. While this remains… here are five things borrowers still do in the loan process that make things more dicey. Co-mingling Gift Funds-let’s say you’re receiving gift monies from family to buy a home. You instruct your family member providing…

The Way Lenders Price & Quote Mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / August 12, 2015

Here is why your interest and fees may be different than you what you saw in the news. How rates and risk based pricing affects your loan…. Mortgage Ads & The Media When you see ultra attractive loan offers or hear the media touting the latest development in interest rates, take it with a grain…

How To Land A Mortgage Post Loan Modification

By Scott Sheldon / April 24, 2015

If you completed a loan modification in the past, you’ll need to meet certain credit thresholds to get a green light for a new loan. What to know… What Is A Loan Modification? A loan modification also known as a restructured mortgage is a loan in which the original terms of the transaction changed resulting…

How To Refinance To A 15 Year Mortgage Even If Your Financials Don't Pencil

By Scott Sheldon / April 2, 2015

One of the best way is bar none to eliminate your mortgage debt is moving into a 15 year fixed rate loan. With the average spread a full 1% compared to its 30 year mortgage counterpart, a 15 year mortgage provide can an increased rate of acceleration in paying off the biggest obligation of your…

Will My Disability Income Count For Getting A Mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / January 25, 2015

If you have an alternative income from a work-related injury or a long-term injury, the devil is in the details when it pertains to how, if or when any of your income you’re collecting could be used to get a mortgage. Things to keep in mind when applying… What We Mean By Disability Benefits Disability…