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 …
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 …
With rates going up, refinance volume quickly heading south and originators looking for the next shiny thing, we are bound to see movement in the industry. That means mergers, buyouts and some companies closing. Migrating originators can be a tricky challenge for the next employer. There are two issues that may surface; who owns the customer and how were the originators compensated? I’ll save the former for another time. Last week I received a call …
Real estate transactions are the easiest way to launder money due to the size of the transactions and the amount of money that can be “cleaned”. All financial institutions are required to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act. Money laundering may also involve tax fraud as well as other potential crimes. All “financial institutions” must comply. According to the Bank Secrecy Act, a “financial institution” includes an exhaustive list of entities, including but not limited to: …
You wouldn’t know we were in the middle of a pandemic based on the housing market. That conforming limit keeps creeping up. It all seems crazy from when I started in the mortgage business in 1994, the conforming loan limit was $225,000. Fast forward 26 years…the 2020 limit was just increased another 9.0% to $548,250 for 2021. Checkout the Loan Limit Geocoder. Now, all we need to know is…what will Fannie and Freddie be doing come …
My analogy to guidelines these days is they are like trying to hold jello in the palm of your hand. Squishy, slippery, moving; slipping through your fingers! Patience is a virtue! We need to understand that underwriters spend MUCH more time determining the amount of income that can be used for qualifying, how consistent it is or will be, the job status of employees, viability of employer’s business and documenting the file to meet secondary …
Recently a mortgage loan originator in another state contacted me for help. He was stuck with an underwriter and was challenged by how to calculate the self employment income. In that conversation he told me how helpful it would be to originators to have a “loan advisor” to consult with. He encouraged me to set up Advisory Sessions and they are now available to any originator who knows the value of time. In addition to …
April 29, 2020 – The CFPB issued an Interpretive Rule today titled: Application of Certain Provisions in the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule and Regulation Z Right of Rescission Rules in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The rule allows for COVID-19 to be a “financial emergency reason for borrowers to WAIVE the TRID closing waiting period and the three-day right of rescission. “The Bureau understands that the COVID-19 pandemic could pose temporary business disruptions and challenges …
26,000,000 people filed for unemployment in the past several weeks; and it’s not over! The Coronavirus is causing serious financial issues for states. For the first time ever, independent contractors are eligible under the CARES Act , even though unemployment taxes may not have been paid in. When the states start looking at all the workers who were 1099, what action will they take? The IRS is just as interested in independent contractors, even more …
Every customer should receive a written analysis; it helps take emotion out of the equation. I do it for all my purchases and refinances. Yes, we have lots of long discussions, but hearing and seeing are two different things! The point of an analysis (particulary for refinances) is for a consumer to know the interest costs and principal reduction between a new loan and the original loan at it’s current balance. (you may need to …
Is there any good news today? I guess at least people who have filed will begin collecting some income. The mortgage world is in flux and the challenges are coming faster than we can deal with. We play a very important role as mortgage professionals by helping people make the right decisions; what’s in their best interests. This week I told three customers NOT to refinance. If you are submitting 100% of approvable files you …
If you really, really procrastinated taking 2019 CE be glad this is a leap year! Last fall the NMLS published a Notice on 2020 Late CE Course Catalog. The notice included rules in an overview, which if you are licensed MLO, you already know, right? But…since there are two whole days left, we wanted to give you one last, late chance! The Model State Law, which a majority of states adopted when passing their own …
In December, 2019 McKinsey & Company’s article “Competing on Customer Experiences in US Mortgage,” they sited reassurance, transparency, simplicity, and speed as the four dimensions of a mortgage experience. The #1 priority; GETTING THINGS RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME! Speed and simple processes are up there, but what do you have to know to get it right the first time? Consumers still like advisors; someone to run things by, ask questions, review the numbers with and rely on …
It’s a new year with all the hopes that January brings…it’s also Monday. New week, same old issues. You are in charge of “training.” You yawn, sip your coffee and try to remember where you left off on Friday afternoon. In-house training departments face many challenges. They are expensive and labor intensive. The cost to acquire, develop, maintain, update and deliver content and systems is an ongoing battle. Compliance takes over when new mortgage laws …
This is the first decade where social media found its place! While I was a bit late to the party, this year I was honored to cross paths with so many people simply because of social media; people I never would have met or had an opportunity to interact with. If cultivated, these relationship can be life-long and life-changing. Using social media to grow your business can be very effective. It can also be used …
December 18, 2020 – Did you attend one of our live seminars on the new 1003 this year? If so, we got side-railed a bit when the GSE’s delayed the implementation date. Well, it appears we are back on track. Today the FHFA and GSEs announced the mandatory deadline for using the new URLA: NOVEMBER 1, 2020. At least they gave us some time. Directly integrated lenders and software providers may begin testing the new …
If you followed our mini series on California’s latest law AB5, you know that independent contractor “1099” status just got tougher in CA. AB5 seriously increased the ability for state and federal governments to reclassify workers from independent contractors to “employee”(W-2) status. If this is not a topic you are familiar with, you may want to watch this 5 part mini-series. Episode 1The Dynamex Case Episode 2Dynamex Exemptions Episode 3Dynamex Penalties Episode 4Dynamex What You …
Mortgage professionals…you may think this doesn’t apply to you…and maybe it doesn’t. This purported gray area has caused many employees and companies to grapple with the rules with many debates on this topic. Until now! On October 8, 2019, the CA Supreme Court ruled that if companies have misclassified employees, the state can go back FOUR YEARS; to calculate back state and withholding taxes, state unemployment taxes, penalties and interest. Were they eligible for retirement …