The Mortgage Files

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

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

By Scott Sheldon / June 5, 2020

  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…

How to get a mortgage when your self employed income is tricky

By Scott Sheldon / May 20, 2020

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…

Minimum credit scores changing on mortgage programs due to Coronavirus

By Scott Sheldon / May 12, 2020

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…

How the new PPP Loan may adversely affect your mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / May 11, 2020

If you’re looking for mortgage loan financing and you have taking out or considering the new federal paycheck Protection Program mortgage loan here’s some things you need to know… Residential Mortgage financing does require a certain amount of monthly income and having expenses that are low enough to be in alignment with a new proposed…

How to navigate mortgage appraisal situations during the Coronavirus pandemic

By Scott Sheldon / May 2, 2020

One of the things that have changed since the coronavirus has taken shape is how mortgage lenders are viewing appraisals. If you’re buying or refinancing a home here’s what you need to know… If you have a very good strong financial package typically 20% equity with good credit score and sufficient savings in the bank…

COVID_19 How a mortgage forbearance works

By Scott Sheldon / April 16, 2020

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…

How to get a mortgage if you’ve been furloughed to do to COVID_19

By Scott Sheldon / April 9, 2020

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…

Fannie & Freddie change home mortgage appraisals over COVID_19

By Scott Sheldon / April 1, 2020

The coronavirus has just changed the way in which mortgage lenders are now appraising homes. Due to market volatility and changing market conditions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac just recently announced that they’re going to be loosening appraisal standards. Here’s how these new appraisal standards apply to you… On purchase transactions for a primary residence…