The mortgage origination field can seem quite appealing, offering the potential for high earnings, autonomy, and the satisfaction of assisting others with their home financing. However, this allure often leads to unrealistic expectations and, ultimately, disillusionment and failure. True success in the mortgage industry requires setting realistic goals and taking full ownership of your career. Many companies tend to over-promise and under-deliver, advertising top-tier rates, extensive support, and lucrative compensation plans to attract newly licensed …
I have been receiving many inquiries about what it takes to start a mortgage broker business and how to get started. I recently spoke to a gentleman who thought he wanted to start his own business, but after our lengthy conversation, he came to the conclusion “I just want to originate.” How much time and money did a conversation possibly save him? In 1994, I became an originator. I was being recruited by a local …
For the past 20 years, I have been teaching real estate classes. Initially, I began teaching as a way to build and maintain professional relationships and gain referrals. Unlike sponsoring open houses or arranging casual coffee meet-ups, I found that educating was a more effective and respectable approach. The courses I taught were not just general marketing or time management workshops. They were state-approved continuing education (CE) courses, allowing agents and brokers to earn credits …
The definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Welcome to the mortgage business! Mortgage company owners and recruiters often entice new Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs) into the industry with the allure of minimal entry requirements. However, this approach frequently leads to a puzzling outcome: these new entrants struggle to succeed. The critical question arises: where is the emphasis on truly understanding the mortgage business? Beyond the basics of …
In a startling turn of events, two major players in the mortgage and real estate industry have been dealt a hefty blow with fines totaling a staggering $1.95 million. The penalties come as a result of their failure to comply with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), a federal law designed to safeguard consumers in real estate transactions. The mortgage company, known for its prominence in the market, and the real estate agency, a …
Ready to embark on a rewarding career as a mortgage loan originator? Look no further! We’re thrilled to announce our latest offering: the comprehensive 20-Hour Safe Pre-Licensing Education Program Our newest course was written by and taught by veteran mortgage loan originator Debra Killian. It’s packed with valuable insights, industry knowledge, and expert guidance and is designed to equip you with the essential skills needed to thrive in the mortgage industry. We believe that high-quality …
In the last 3 weeks, I spent 7 hours in front of 125 real estate agents! A captive audience. Curious how I got there? If you’ve read this far, this is not a brag post. It’s an opportunity for you to get in front of your target audience and with someone else driving them into your seats! It’s to make you realize, you have to be different from your competitors to get different results than …
On October 13, 2022 the Federal Department of Labor published findings in Vol. 87, No. 197 of the Federal Register. The W-2/1099 controversary hits many businesses. As stated in previous posts, there is no special 1099 consideration for mortgage loan originators. Regardless of which state you work in or which type of employer your work for, Mortgage Loan Originators are required to have their income reported on IRS Form W-2. There are many companies that …
The overlap between federal and state laws and regulations becomes very apparent once there is an examination and/or an enforcement action. With COVID dominating our work environment over the past two years, not many audits or exams were scheduled by state regulators. That is all about to change. They are way behind and will begin the process of catching up sooner than you may be ready for. In many cases where mortgage companies get caught …
With the new URLA behind us…along comes the next major change in residential lending. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (aka the GSEs) have provided an update on the new URAR. Yes, the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report is undergoing some major changes. Here are just a few highlights: Input was gathered from 107 stakeholders across the industry in designing the new form. The key benefits of the new form are: Dynamic output with commentary placed within each …