The Mortgage Files

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

5 Important Things To Consider When Refinancing To A Fixed Rate Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / December 10, 2015

If you have an adjustable rate mortgage on your home, here the 5 prudent factors to weigh in on when refinancing to fixed rate loan type…. Duration of Introductory Rate Period Most adjustable rate mortgages are fixed for first few years in the introductory period, and then become variable for the remainder of the duration…

How The 2016 Loan Limit Increases Will Benefit You

By Scott Sheldon / November 30, 2015

On November 25, 2015, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced the 2016 new loan limits. Most notably, four counties in California have increased as well as various others throughout the country. Here’s what you need to know regarding the changes… Know Your Loan Category When you apply for a mortgage to buy a home or…

Home Equity Line Of Credit Loans May Soon Be Adjusting Up

By Scott Sheldon / November 24, 2015

If you have a home-equity line of credit, or thinking about getting one, here is what you need to know to make a smart choice given today’s rate environment. Home-Equity Lines Of Credit (HELOCS) These loans are relatively simple to obtain and in exchange for a few hundred dollars of fees you can have access…

How Generating A Bigger Income Plays A Role In Your Borrowing Power

By Scott Sheldon / November 13, 2015

Ever wonder the best way to gain more control of your debt? A low rate and payment helps, but discipline and smart income choices play an important role as well… Income is a crucial component lenders look at when granting you a mortgage loan. It is the basis by which they are going to get…

Why You’re Burning Money If You Have Not Yet Refinanced Your 4.25 Or Higher Mortgage

By Scott Sheldon / October 29, 2015

If you’re serious about reducing your interest expense associated with your mortgage, refinancing is a guaranteed bet to reduce your payment, reduce your cost of funds and pay off your home faster. Haven’t refinanced yet? Know your options… Rate Reduction This is number reason most consumers elect to refinance. The biggest driver of payment reduction…

Your Student Loan Credit May Secretly Limit Your Mortgage Options

By Scott Sheldon / October 17, 2015

If not handled properly, your student loan may adversely change your home purchase plans. Here’s what you probably don’t know regarding your student loan servicer… Just like any other credit obligation, your student loan servicer reports to the credit bureaus. Even if the payment is deferred, the obligation still reports every 30 days much like…

How Mortgage Interest Works

By Scott Sheldon / October 9, 2015

Mortgage interest is a double edge sword, on one hand it’s a tax-deductible expense, but by and large it is the heaviest cost of homeownership. What to pay attention to if you have not done a mortgage in a few years or bought a home before. Interest Works The Opposite Of Rent The amount of…

Five Things Consumer Still Do In The Loan Process That Hurts Their Loan Closing

By Scott Sheldon / October 2, 2015

Lending requirements are starting to loosen, and gone are the days of overly stringent mortgage underwriting. While this remains… here are five things borrowers still do in the loan process that make things more dicey. Co-mingling Gift Funds-let’s say you’re receiving gift monies from family to buy a home. You instruct your family member providing…