The Mortgage Files

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

4 common home buying mistakes to avoid

By Scott Sheldon / October 22, 2018

When begin talking to lender about getting preapproved, you’re going to go through tons of emotions including the ultimate deciding factor whether you should buy a home or stay put. Here are the following things to avoid falling prey to prior to closing escrow on your house. Don’t get wrapped around the purchase price of…

How child support and alimony can affect your ability to get a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / October 16, 2018

How child support and alimony can affect your ability to get a mortgage When you apply to purchase or refinance a home the mortgage lender takes into consideration all your monthly fixed expenses, adds them into your housing payment and creates what’s called a debt to income ratio. Also called payment to income ratio which…

How to get a mortgage without providing tax returns

By Scott Sheldon / September 17, 2018

If you’re looking to purchase or refinance a house providing tax returns can sometimes just be inconvenient especially if your tax returns have various extending schedules. Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking to borrow money on a mortgage without providing the laundry list of financial documentation most banks and lenders require… Not…

3 quirky issues that will hurt your mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / September 5, 2018

Getting a mortgage loan in 2018 is still a very bureaucratic and compliant process. People getting mortgages today are still paying for the sins of borrowers’ past. Here are some things to consider… You must be able to document and specifically show all forms of income period. While it is true some things can be…

How to transfer property to family and still be protected under Prop 13

By Scott Sheldon / August 7, 2018

Proposition 13 was enacted in 1978 by voters to limit the amount of property-taxes the homeowner pays. Prop 13 protect your property taxes from increasing by more than 2% per year. It protects properties that rise in value. Following are the biggest concerns mortgage borrowers have when it comes time to keeping property taxes low……

Why your mortgage payment keeps changing

By Scott Sheldon / August 2, 2018

Why your mortgage payment keeps changing. Consumers are often given little explanation by their bank on why their payments are due to a different company. When you take out a mortgage here’s what you need to know… The residential mortgage business in America has two sides; loan origination and loan servicing. Banks make many through…

How much of your income should go towards a mortgage payment?

By Scott Sheldon / July 17, 2018

One of the challenges home buyers face when purchasing a house for the first time is of their income should go towards a mortgage payment. This number varies greatly and just because the bank tells you you can take on a certain payment to income ratio that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Here is…

These little lending nuances may help you land a mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / June 26, 2018

Getting a mortgage in 2018 there is a bureaucratic and compliant process with a significant amount of paperwork involved. Following is some tips on various loan programs available in the marketplace you may not know… Conventional mortgages they will go up to a debt to income ratio of 50%. Here is the kicker if your…