The Mortgage Files

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

Keys in Palm of Homebuyer's Hand

The 3 most common mortgage loan types

By Scott Sheldon / November 25, 2020

Picking the right mortgage loan type for your family is a big financial decision. Here are some things to consider about the three most popular types of mortgages and what the pros and cons and differences are between all three… Most mortgages today are for 30 year fixed rates. There are other terms available such…

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Reviewing Mortgage Rates and Deals

How out of pocket costs relate to mortgage refinancing

By Scott Sheldon / November 13, 2020

With interest rates at historical lows, many families across the country would stand to benefit from turning in their high-cost mortgage in exchange for getting something far more affordable with today’s rates. There’s a lot that goes into the mix, including cost-benefit, what the real cost of funds is and many other factors to weigh…

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Sunny Livingroom

How a homeowners association payment can change your borrowing power

By Scott Sheldon / October 30, 2020

A homeowners association payment can change your borrowing power. Here’s what you might want to think about when deciding to buy a home with a home owner’s association… A homeowners association payment can make or break your ability and or your desire to purchase a home. One of the things about homeowners association payments that…

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Can you get a mortgage if your loan is in forbearance?

Can you get a mortgage if your loan is in forbearance?

By Scott Sheldon / September 23, 2020

One of the challenges of securing mortgage financing during this COVID-19 environment is forbearance. The pandemic has created some rather unprecedented and unique situations for people desiring to borrow money. If your mortgage loan is in forbearance and you’re trying to get a mortgage here’s what you need to know… First things first it doesn’t…

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new 2020 market adverse fee conventional mortgages

New fee for residential conventional mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / August 13, 2020

The Federal Housing Finance Agency just rolled out August 12th, 2020 new change to conventional mortgage refinances. Here’s what you need to know going forward… Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now assessing  50 basis points loan level pricing adjustment on all refinances for conventional loans going forward. For example, a mortgage that was offered…

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how to reposition your debt to buy a home

How to reposition your debt to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / August 6, 2020

Purchasing your first home or even a move-up home is no easy feat. You need to have a blend of credit, income, and manageable monthly expenses so you can support the desired house payment you’re looking to take on. The number one reason why people have a difficult time getting qualified to purchase a home,…

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how to button up mortgage finances to get a mortgage

How to button up your finances for getting a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / July 30, 2020

If you are trying to get a mortgage, the number one thing you need is affordability. How much you earn in relation to how much you spend can make or break your mortgage application. Here are some things to consider when you’re trying to figure out how to best improve your chances of borrowing money…

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How to use a 401k for down payment to buy a home

How to use a 401k for down payment to buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / July 24, 2020

Does it make sense to tap your 401k to purchase a home? For most families in America, one of the biggest Staples of wealth is a retirement account. Here is what you might want to keep in mind when you are deciding where to get funds to purchase a house… To successfully close on a…

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