MLO Flash Cards
MLO Study Guide
What is the CFPB and who was it created by?
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau / Created by the Dodd Frank Act and the Consumer Finance Protection Act.
What is the purpose of the CFPB?
To promote financial stability through accountability and transparency
What is Regulation B?
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), this ensures that all consumers are given an equal chance to obtain credit.
What is Regulation C?
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), To identify possible discriminatory lending patterns through the collection and disclosure of data about applicants and borrower characteristics.
What is Regulation F?
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA),
What is Regulation G/H?
SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement) Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE) - State Compliance and Bureau Registration System
What is Regulation N?
Mortgage Acts and Practices (Advertising) - (MAP), To prohibit false or misleading commercial advertising of mortgage products.
What is Regulation O?
Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Act (MARS), To help protect distressed home owners from foreclosure prevention scams.
What is Regulation P?
Gramm-Leach Bliley Act - Protects your non-public information
What is Regulation V?
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), To ensure the accuracy fairness and privacy of consumers personal information that is assembled and used by consumer reporting agencies.
What is Regulation X?
Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA), To help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services, eliminate unnecessary increases in costs due to kickbacks, and place limitation of the use of reserve accounts.
What is Regulation Z?
Truth in Lending Act (TILA), To promote the informed use of consumer credit by requiring disclosure about its terms and costs.
What are the laws regulated by CFPB?
Regulation B - Equal Credit Opportunity Act / ECOA
Regulation C - Home Mortgage Disclosure Act / HMDA
Regulation F - Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Regulation G/H -SAFE Mortgage Licensing Act / SAFE
Regulation N - Mortgage Acts and Practices / MAP
Regulation O - Mortgage Assistance Relief Services / MARS
Regulation P - Gramm-Leach Bliley Act / GLBA
Regulation V - Fair Credit Reporting Act / FCRA
Regulation X - Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act / RESPA
Regulation Z - Truth in Lending Act / TILA
What is a mortgage?
A written instrument using real property to secure repayment of a debt
What makes up the Primary Market?
Mortgage Banker (closes a loan in their own name using their own funds)
Mortgage Broker (Facilitates loan origination for financial institutions for a fee)
Commercial Banks (Examples. Chase, Bank of America, Citibank…)
Savings and Loan associations (S&L / Thrifs)
Credit Unions
Finance Companies (High risk loans at high rates)
Mutual Savings Banks
What makes up the Secondary Market?
Fannie Mae (FNMA)
Freddie Mac (FHLMC)
Ginnie Mae (GNMA)
The Federal Home Loan Bank System
Private Investors
What is Fannie Mae?
The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) - Est. 1938
- It is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)
- Largest mortgage investor
What is Freddie Mac?
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)- Est. 1970
- 2nd Largest GSE created to provide a secondary market for mortgages from S&L associations
What is Ginnie Mae?
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) - Est. 1968
- Part of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Does not purchase or sell loans
- Issues guarantees on bond pools of government backed (FHA/VA/USDA) loans
What does RESPA apply to?
Applies to any federally related mortgage loan for 1-4 unit owner occupied property
It applies to all listed - conventional loans, government sponsored loans, purchase loans, reverse mortgages, assumptions, refinances, property improvement loans, equity lines of credit)
What does RESPA NOT apply to?
Does not apply to all cash sales, rental properties, a property of 25 acres or more (agricultural), vacant land (unless a dwelling will be constructed or moved onto the property within 2 years), commercial property, home seller takebacks, temporary construction loans
If the rental property has 2-4 units and the owner of the rental property is in one of the units, then RESPA does apply
What are the 4 sections of RESPA
S.K.T.E
Section 6 - Servicing
Section 8 - Kickbacks
Section 9 - Title
Section 10 - Escrow
What does Section 6 do?
Force Place Insurance - Loan servicer force places insurance on the property due to borrower canceling or has not renewed insurance policy for the property (Must notify 45 days before / again at 30 days before)
Qualified Written Request (QWR) - Loan servicer has 5 days to notify of receipt / 45 days to resolve the issue in the request (Ex. Borrower has some kind of issue with the loan servicing and sends a request to servicer)
Missed Payments/Delinquent Accounts - Loan Servicer must attempt to contact the borrower within 36 days of the missed payment. Loan Servicer must mail Loss Mitigation info within 45 days to borrower. Loan Servicer is prohibited from filing a pre-foreclosure Notice of Default (NOD) until payment is 120 days late.
What does Section 8 do?
Prohibits Kickbacks, Fee-splitting, unearned (upfront) fees
Prohibits the acceptance or giving of anything of value for referrals of settlement services
What does Section 9 do?
Seller cannot require the buyer to use a particular title insurance company as a condition of the sale, unless the seller pays for title insurance and all other title related fees.
If violated, the buyer may sure for treble damages (3x) for all title insurance charges
What does Section 10 do?
Lender cannot require the borrow to deposit more than 1/12 of the annual amount into an escrow account.
However at closing the lender can require a 2 month cushion
Analysis of escrow is required every year / any excess of $50 returned to borrower within 30 days
What penalties can you incur for violating RESPA?
May face criminal and civil penalties
- A fine up to 10,000$
- Imprisonment up to 1 year
- Liability up to 3x the amount of the service
What disclosures are given at or within 3 business days of a completed application
Home Loan Toolkit (For a normal purchase)
HUD Special Information Booklet AKA. “Know before you owe” Booklet (Required for HELOCs, Reverse mortgages, and loans secured by mobile homes)
Loan Estimate or Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
Mortgage Servicing Disclosure Statement
List of 10 HUD approved Home counselors
If the borrower is turned down by lender or withdraws, these are not required any longer.
What disclosures are given BEFORE settlement?
Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure (if the lender owns more than 1% of the business the lender refers the borrower to)
Closing Disclosure (3 Days before closing)
What disclosures are given AT settlement?
Finalized Closing Disclosure
Initial Escrow Statement (Can be given within 45 of the settlement as well)
What disclosures are given AFTER settlement?
Annual Escrow Statement (Given annually)
Servicing Transfer Statement - If the servicer for the loan is being transferred (Notify 15 days before the transfer, and a 60 day grace period)
How long are the terms of the RESPA disclosures at the state of an application?
Terms must be available for 10 business days
What 6 items make up a completed application?
A.L.I.E.N.S
A - Address of the property
L - Loan Amount
I - Income
E - Estimate value of the subject propety
N - Name
S - SSN
What is a HUD - 1 Settlement Statement?
A document that lists all charges and credits to the buyer and to the seller in a real estate settlement, or all the charges in a mortgage refinance.
What is an FHA loan?
FHA loans are mortgage loans that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and issued by FHA-approved lenders.
The FHA is part of what?
The FHA is part of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
What are the general guidelines for an FHA loan?
- For purchases, the property must be an owner-occupied, one-to-four-unit residence
- Regarding credit scores, the minimum down payment for a credit score of 580+ is 3.5%, 500-579 is 10%, and below 500 are not eligible
- It is okay for a down payment to come from gift funds
- Seller concessions are limited to 6% of the sales price or appraisal value, whichever is lower
- Mortgage payments are due at the 1st of each month and they are considered late on the 15th of the month. The maximum late charge is 4% of the monthly principal and interest.
- Maximum allowable term is 30 years.
- The borrower must occupy the property within 60 days after closing and plan to stay for at least a year
- The loan is assumable, subject to approval of loan servicer and HUD credit guidelines
- There is an Anti-Flip Policy - A borrower cannot purchase a home from a seller that recently bought the property within the past 90 days because any sales during that timeframe is considered to be a “flip”
- No prepayment penalties
- Two types of mortgage insurance that are required, upfront MIP and Monthly MIP (upfront can either be payed lump sum at closing or financed into the loan)
What are seller concessions?
Seller concessions are closing costs that the seller pays to help the buyer reducing the amount of cash they need to close.
What is Novation?
The process of releasing the original borrower and substituting the new mortgager
What are front-end and back-end ratios for a FHA loan?
31% maximum front-end and 43% maximum back-end
What are the front-end and back-end ratios for a conventional loan?
28% maximum front-end and 36% maximum back-end
What are the front-end and back-end ratios for a VA loan?
No front-end for a VA loan and a maximum 41% for the back-end
What are the front-end and back-end ratios for a USDA loan?
28% Maximum front-end and 41% maximum back-end
Who created the SAFE Act?
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA)
Conference of state bank supervisors
What is the CSBS?
American association of residential mortgage regulator
What is the AARMR
Who took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008?
The Federal Housing Agency, and this was allowed by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA).
What is a color of title?
A document or other instrument that appears to be a legitimate claim of title to a piece of land, but due to a title defect, cannot transfer for convey ownership
What are the 3 ways to estimating property value?
Sales-Comparison Approach
Cost Approach
Income Capitalization Approach
What are the minimum amount of comparisons an appraiser will get for a sales-comparison approach?
3 comparisons, and they must be 1 to 3 miles away from the subject property and closed within the past 6 months.
What approach will an appraiser take if you buy vacant land and plan to build a home on it within the first 2 years? After 2 years?
Cost approach if the home is built within the first 2 years. Sales-comparison approach after 2 years.
What is the penalty for violating the SAFE Act?
$34,401 per violation
What is the penalty for violating TILA?
$13,627 for the first and $27,252 for any subsequent violations
Who created the DNC?
The Federal Communication Commission(FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission(FTC).
What is a VA loan?
Mortgage loans that are guaranteed by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
What is the Maximum Guarantee for a VA loan?
The maximum guarantee is 25%.
Who can get a VA loan?
Veterans, military members currently serving, reservists, and select surviving spouses. (assuming a VA is possible for non-military, as long as they meet the requirements to assume the loan)
What is available for VA loans?
Purchase of owner-occupied single-family homes or multifamily dwellings up to four units.
What are the main benefits of a VA loan?
To be able to purchase a home with no down payment and have prepayment penalties.
What are the 2 documents required for eligibility for a VA loan?
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and the DD214 / NGB22/23 or statement of service.
DD214 is discharge paperwork
NGB22/23 are general orders
What are the VA qualifications?
- Maximum back-end ratio is 41%
- Sufficient Residual Income
- Must occupy the property within 60 days after closing and plan to stay for at least 1 year
What is the Variable Funding Free for a VA loan?
It is a one-time non-refundable fee of 2.15% of the purchase price of the home. It can be financed into the loan if needed, and may be waived all together for veterans with disabilities or surviving spouses.
What is the maximum a vendor may charge for a VA loan?
1% of the loan amount to cover cost.
What is obtained through a VA appraisel?
a Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV) or a Notice of Reasonable Value (NOV).
What is the maximum seller concessions allowed for a VA loan?
They must not exceed 4%of the loan.
What is the maximum loan term for a VA loan?
30 years
What is the late fee for a VA loan?
4% of the monthly Principal and Interest.
What is a conventional loan?
Mortgage loans that are not insured or guaranteed by the government. They are not part of any specific government program
What are the 2 types of conventional loans?
- Conventional conforming - Loan conforms to loan limits, down payment requirements, borrower income requirements, debt-to-income ratios, and other underwriting guidelines established by both the FNMC (Fannie Mae) and FHMLC (Freddie Mac).
- Conventional non-conforming - Loan does not meet the standards of both the FNMC and the FHMLC.
What are examples of non-conforming loans?
- Jumbo Loans - Loans that exceed the loan limits est. by the FNMC and the FHMLC
- Alt-A Loans - Loans made to borrowers who do not represent the high credit risk of subprime borrowers, but do not quite meet the underwriting requirements to qualify to be a conforming loan
- Subprime loans - Loans made to borrowers who have a credit history that reflects significant derogatory issues or borrowers have a combination of credit issues and documentation issues