The Mortgage Files
Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.
Buying a house? Expect multiple offers
Believe it or not, the pandemic has created a unique situation where many markets are experiencing multiple-offer situations on properties for sale. If you’re going to get pre-approved or begin looking for a house here is what you might want to be aware of and what you can best do to position your chances of…
Read More about Buying a house? Expect multiple offersShould you buy a condo or a single family home?
When it comes to purchasing a home especially a first home what you decide to purchase can affect your affordability. Here’s what you might want to think about when you’re deciding to purchase a condo versus a single-family house… When you purchase a condo your payment is comprised of principal, interest, taxes, and insurance and…
Read More about Should you buy a condo or a single family home?Why interest rates will probably not get any lower
Interest rates are a big driver of the mortgage market. People purchasing houses and refinancing houses are taking advantage of today’s historically low rates. Here are some fundamentals you should be aware of when it comes to interest rates and what the market may or may not do going forward… First things first what drives…
Read More about Why interest rates will probably not get any lowerHow to use seller carry financing to purchase a house with less cash down
One of the old school ways home buyers used to buy homes was to secure a first mortgage and a second mortgage via seller carry financing. The program has gone away in recent years but a re-emergence is not beginning to take shape in this 2020 market. Here’s how you need to know how…
Read More about How to use seller carry financing to purchase a house with less cash downHow to get a mortgage when your self employed income is tricky
Not always, but traditionally, self-employed borrowers have a hard time securing mortgage loan financing. If you are filing self-employed and you are trying to get qualified for mortgage financing here are some solid tips to keep in mind… Most mortgage lenders are going to require you to provide 2 years of federal tax returns. They…
Read More about How to get a mortgage when your self employed income is trickyMinimum credit scores changing on mortgage programs due to Coronavirus
If you are in the market for mortgage loan financing or will be in 2020 this information could be very pertinent to your situation. Here is what you need to know about what is going on right now and likely will happen throughout the rest of this year… The Coronavirus pandemic is not only a…
Read More about Minimum credit scores changing on mortgage programs due to CoronavirusCOVID_19 How a mortgage forbearance works
As the coronavirus continues to worsen and make life difficult for many families, one risk is the loss of income due to being furloughed or temporarily laid off. Here is what you need to know about a forbearance, what it is and how it works. You are obligated to repay the money that you borrowed…
Read More about COVID_19 How a mortgage forbearance worksHow to get a mortgage if you’ve been furloughed to do to COVID_19
The coronavirus has undoubtedly created a significant amount of challenges for mortgage companies and families across America. Some lenders are changing credit score requirements, others are pulling out of the market entirely, and others are making restrictions on what types of loans they will fund. If you are in the process of getting a mortgage…
Read More about How to get a mortgage if you’ve been furloughed to do to COVID_19