Welcome to Mortgage Lending Explained, my consumer education blog dedicated to bringing clarity to the mortgage process.
Mortgage Lending Explained is published on Substack at www.JSWhaldo.Substack.com and is also featured here on JSWhaldo.com. Wherever you choose to read, I encourage you to comment, ask questions, and subscribe.
The Mortgage Lending Explained newsletter is published with each new article and podcast episode. My monthly JSWhaldo newsletter focuses primarily on travel and lifestyle content, highlighting new projects and stories from across the site.
After more than 30 years in mortgage underwriting, I write these articles to help consumers understand how mortgage loans really work. My goal is to explain lending in plain English, separate fact from fiction, and provide insight into how mortgage underwriters evaluate loan applications.
Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing, exploring reverse mortgages, or simply curious about credit and lending, I hope you'll find useful information and practical answers here.
Written by J.S. Whaldo, a retired mortgage underwriter with more than three decades of industry experience.
Welcome, and enjoy exploring Mortgage Lending Explained.
The Holiday Money Moves That Can Kill Your Mortgage Approval
After more than thirty years of underwriting, I can tell you that these little holiday spending choices show up in mortgage files like breadcrumbs. Buy Now Pay Later plans, short-term loans, zero-interest cards, promo-rate balance transfers, all of it adds up. And during the busiest shopping season of the year, borrowers accidentally make their mortgage path harder without realizing they’re doing anything risky at all.
Understanding Credit Scores: What Mortgage Underwriters Really Look For
You’ve probably heard that your credit score can make or break your mortgage application. But what does that number really mean — and what’s going on behind the scenes when a lender pulls your credit?
As a mortgage underwriter with over three decades of experience, I’ve seen the full spectrum of credit reports. Let me walk you through what matters most, what doesn’t, and how to put your best foot forward when applying for a mortgage.