The Mortgage Files

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

What to know about refinancing with a second mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / December 2, 2020

Many people desiring to refinance are taking advantage of historically low-interest rates. One of the challenges when refinancing your house is when you have a second mortgage. Here is what you need to know if you’re trying to refinance and you have a second loan… If your desired to refinance and you have a first…

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…

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…

Risky income moves which may prevent you from getting a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / November 6, 2020

One of the challenges of getting mortgage loan financing these days is showing total and complete monthly income. Contrary to popular belief you must be able to support ability-to-repay (ATR) as a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has laws in place to make sure abusive lending practices from days past don’t repeat themselves. One of the…

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…

Here’s 3 types of pricier mortgages

By Scott Sheldon / October 15, 2020

When you’re in the market to get new mortgage loan financing it can seem like it’s an endless navigational process to figure out what loan amount, what interest rate, what program what option is best suited to meet your needs. Here five pricier types of mortgages to be aware of… Cash-out refinances cost more because…

Common reasons buyers give to not buy a home

By Scott Sheldon / October 8, 2020

How can you determine what is the right house, the right area the right location, and the right house for you and your family? Here are tips to consider as you’re out there in the marketplace looking at houses with your real estate agent… What type of house are you looking for? Are you looking…

The catch with today’s low-interest-rate environment

By Scott Sheldon / October 2, 2020

If you’re getting a mortgage or thinking about getting any type of mortgage loan financing and you’re looking at interest rates for 30-year mortgages in the mid to s for example here’s what you need to know… Most mortgage offerings in the marketplace today at or sub 3% come with varying rates fees and in…