The Mortgage Files

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

Should you refinance with your current mortgage servicer?

Should you refinance your current mortgage?

By Scott Sheldon / March 6, 2022

People looking to refinance their homes are always looking for a good deal. It goes without saying you’ll want to do the best you can for yourself financially. Get the best combination of rate, price, and customer service. Here are some things that you should give some consideration to when choosing who to work with…

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How your ex can make your mortgage application difficult

Your ex can make your mortgage application difficult

By Scott Sheldon / February 27, 2022

You’re trying to purchase or refinance a home. You have an ex that you’re dealing with that you were either married to or on the title to a property with. The mortgage process depends on what that communication looks like with that other person. It could be very easy or more technical and challenging. Yes,…

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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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How to purchase a house with a partial down payment

How to purchase a house with a partial down payment

By Scott Sheldon / December 12, 2021

How do you buy a house with not quite enough money? Contrary to popular belief you can buy a house even if you don’t have enough money to do it. It’s a little technical but it’s going to require you, your realtor, and your lender to put your heads together. Here’s how it can be…

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mortgage self employed bad income tax year 2020 covid 19

How to get a mortgage if your 2020 tax return was low due to covid_19

By Scott Sheldon / September 19, 2021

As we are entering into pandemic manageability, one of the things lenders are still looking for as it pertains to self-employment borrowers is positive income from your tax return… Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the FHA and the VA all want two years of tax returns. Lenders also these days request a year-to-date…

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Should you buy a home in cash or finance it?

Looking to buy a house the summer? You’ll need a down payment

By Scott Sheldon / July 3, 2021

As interest rates still remain low many people who have been on the sidelines about buying a house are now coming out of the woodwork. Maybe they’re buying a first home or a move-up home but there is strong demand for housing across the nation in every city and the county throughout the United States.…

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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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what to know before you consider doing a forbearance

Be careful going into forbearance

By Scott Sheldon / March 25, 2021

Well, times are definitely changing and one of the biggest challenges to buying a new home or refinancing a mortgage is forbearance. The federal government has allowed borrowers to do mortgage payment deferrals, but that comes at a cost. If you have forbearance on your mortgage right now or if you’re thinking about going into…

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