Mortgage Flash Cards
What is the required pass
rate for the NMLS Test and
how long is it?
75% of 115 questions. The test has
120 questions with 5 questions that
are ungraded.
What is important to remember about taking the test?
Read the questions twice, slowly, but do not take over 30 seconds per question the first time through
What is the requirement under Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and ECOA?
All consumers have the right to apply for a loan unless they are under 18 years of age
Which Law and Regulation is Home Ownership Equity Protect Act (HOEPA) under?
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and REG Z
Which items are restricted under HOEPA?
Predatory Lending, Abusive Lending Practices, Negative Amortization, PrepaymentPenalties, Balloon Lending, Subprime Lending, EquityStripping, and not meeting Ability to Repay (ATR) requirements
What is the minimum period for a Balloon mortgage?
A 30-year amortized loan that is due in 60 months
What is the Average Prime Offered Rate?
APOR – an index that is published weekly. It is added to High-Cost and Higher-Priced Triggers.
Who publishes the APOR Index?
FFIEC, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
What is the Regulation for High-Cost Loans?
Section 1026.32
What are the three triggers for High-Cost Lending?
6.5% on a first Mortgage, 8.5% on a second Mortgage, and a 5% fee trigger for loans over $20,000
What are the triggers for Higher-Priced lending?
1.5% for first Mortgages, 3.5% for 2nd mortgages and no fee trigger
How do you calculate whether a loan exceeds the HigherPriced mortgage limits?
Add the APOR index to 1.5% on a first mortgage. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) cannot exceed the two numbers together.
What are the requirements for a High-Cost Loan?
Tax and insurance escrows for the first five years of the loan, mandatory counseling and possibly two appraisals. Cannot use an Appraisal Waiver from Fannie or Freddie. No Balloons are allowed.
What are the requirements for a Higher-Priced Loan?
Tax and insurance escrows for the first five
years of the loan. Cannot use an Appraisal Waiver from Fannie or Freddie.
Prepayment Penalties are not allowed by which agencies?
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA, FHA, and VA
What is collateral?
Property that is used as security against a debt
What is Net Monthly Income?
Take-home pay after taxes and payroll deductions
What is a non-liquid asset?
A type of asset that is not easily turned into cash. Real estate is considered non-liquid.
What are the five parts of ECOA?
Age, Discrimination, Underwriting, Appraisal, and Adverse Action
What is the minimum age under ECOA to obtain a mortgage loan?
18 years or older
ECOA has discriminatory items. What can’t you do with them?
You cannot use them to make or decline a loan
What are the discriminatory items under ECOA?
Sex, Marital Status, Race, Color, Age, Religion, National Origin, Public Assistance, and Sexual Orientation
What can you ask on Marital Status?
Married, unmarried, or separated
Which four areas should you never ask about?
Race, Color, Religion, and Nationality
What is the requirement for Public Assistance?
It must be considered, even though you may not be able to use it for qualifying
How long, after a complete underwriting
package is delivered to the underwriter,
does a decision have to be made?
30 days, but this may be
extended if the package is not
complete
How many days before closing must
the appraisal be delivered to the
borrower?
Three business days before, unless there is an
appraisal waiver issued, then the borrower must be
informed that an appraisal will not be done unless
they request it
How long after a loan is declined or
cancelled must an Adverse Action
notice be sent?
30 days from the decision,
explaining the reason
Under the Fair Housing Act, what are
three protected bases that are different
from those covered by ECOA?
Disability, Familial Status, and
Age
Why is Disability considered
discriminatory under Fair Housing
Act?
You cannot discriminate against a
borrower because they are
physically or mentally disabled
Why is Familial Status considered
under Fair Housing Act?
You cannot discriminate because
of the size of family or if a woman
is pregnant
Why is age not considered
discriminatory under Fair Housing
Act?
Reverse mortgages require a borrower to be 62
years of age or older, and a 55 and over
subdivision requires the borrower or purchaser
of property to be 55 and over
What is the Reg Letter for Fair
Credit Reporting Act?
REG V
How many free credit reports
does every consumer have the
right to get each year?
At least one
Which credit score do you use
when considering a borrower?
Three credit scores are issued on each credit
report for each borrower: High, Middle, and
Low. You will use the Middle unless the
program states differently
Which credit score do you use if the
loan is declined because of credit and
there are three borrowers?
Lowest of the Middle score for all the borrowers.
Example: Borrower 1 has a score of 780, borrower 2
has a credit score of 720, and borrower 3 has credit
score of 660. You would use 660.
What additional information is
required on the Credit Score
Disclosure?
Listing of all three national credit agencies, with
contact information, so the borrower can contact
them in case of an error or dispute. Agencies are
Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax
What are the three national
Credit Agencies?
Experian, TransUnion, and
Equifax
Which law did the Fact Act
amend?
Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA)
What is a fraud alert?
An alert put on the credit report, indicating the
borrower may have had their identity stolen or
credit card or bank accounts compromised
What happens with a Credit
Freeze?
No one will be able to access the borrower’s
credit without them unfreezing their account.
Credit issuers will be able to report credit
payments.
What is the cost for a fraud
alert or credit freeze?
Zero cost and should be applied to
all three credit agencies
What is Truncation?
When credit card, debit card, or bank deposit
receipts are given, they cannot show more than
the last four digits of the account numbers
What are the two parts of Red
Flag Rules?
(1) Before the request for change of personal information, the
company must send a letter or email asking if the person
requested the change. (2) All employees are to be trained on
how to identify a breach of security and what the company’s
requirement is once the breach has been determined.
Which agency regulates Red
Flags?
Federal Trade Commission
(FTC)
What is a Homeowner’s
Warranty?
A warranty and insurance program
that insures a new home for ten years
against major structural defects
If a breach is determined, what
is the requirement?
It must be reported to Compliance Officer or Senior Officer
and, 30 days from that point, the company must send a
notice to all people in their database notifying them of the
breach and what the company has done to protect them
What does GLB stand for?
Gramm-Leach-Bliley
What is the REG for GrammLeach-Bliley?
REG P
What is the main emphasis of
Gramm-Leach-Bliley?
Privacy of consumers’ personal
information
What does NPPI stand for?
Non-Public Personal
Information
What is “Opt-Out” under GLB?
The consumer has the right to opt-out of a
company sharing, selling, or giving their NPPI
to anyone. The Opt-out stays on as long as
their name is in the company’s data base.
What is Phishing or PreTexting?
Obtaining personal information by
illegal process, like a text, claiming
to be from the IRS, asking for your SSN
What is required under SafeGuard Rules?
Whenever you are not using your files, they are
to be locked up in a desk drawer or filing
cabinet. If your files are on a computer, there
must be a lock out after a few minutes.
What regulates Safe-Guard
Rules?
FTC – Federal Trade
Commission
What is the required retention
of Loan Information?
Three years for all loan files
and five years for the CD
Can the hard files be
destroyed?
Once the files are digitized, they
can be destroyed, but that does not
mean throwing them away
Who is required to file a HMDA
report?
All companies that underwrite or fund
loans must file a HMDA report annually. This
includes banks, credit unions, and mortgage
bankers.
What does HMDA stand for?
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
What is the REG letter for
HMDA?
Reg C
Which agency is responsible
for overseeing HMDA data?
FFIEC - Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council
What does CRA stand for?
Community Reinvestment
Act
What does CRA require?
To encourage depository institutions
to help meet the credit needs of the
communities in which they operate
Do Mortgage Brokers have to
report HMDA data?
No, because brokers do
not underwrite or fund
loans
When does the HMDA data
have to be reported?
In 2019, by March 1st of
each year. In 2020, it is
quarterly.
What does PENCIL stand for?
P= Property address, E=Estimated
value, N= Name, C = Credit or Social Security
number, I = Income, L = Loan amount
When is an application
considered a loan?
When you have collected all
the items in PENCIL
What agency regulates and
enforces Do-Not-Call?
FTC – Federal Trade
Commission
How often do you have to pull new data
from the Do-Not-Call website if you are
using the data to solicit consumers?
The data cannot exceed 31 days. The data
incudes phone numbers for any person that
registers their phone number with DNC.
How long are you to retain
your solicitation records?
Two years from the date of
solicitation
What times can you solicit?
8:00am – 9:00pm, depending on
where the person being solicited
is located
What are the two exemptions for
solicitations under Do-Not-Call?
18 months for someone with whom you
have an existing business relationship and
90 days for a Pre-qualification
What is an in-house Do-Not-Call
List?
If a consumer sends a letter or an email to the company
indicating they want no solicitations, the company must put
that person on an internal do-not-call list, so not one
contacts that person. This overrides the 18 month and 90-
day exemption.
What are the eight items
covered under TILA?
1) MDIA – Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act 2)
Advertising 3) HOEPA 4) Loan Estimate (LE) 5)
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 6) Qualified
Mortgage (QM) 7) Loan Officer Compensation 8)
CHARM Booklet
What Does MDIA stand for?
Mortgage Disclosure
Improvement Act
What does Mortgage Disclosure
Improvement Act (MDIA) cover?
MDIA is a part of Reg Z and covers timing and delivery
requirements for initial disclosures, LE, intent to proceed, and
changes to the mortgage loan program, prepayment penalty, or
APR calculations. MDIA also addresses when the CD needs to be
Issued, as well as the waiting period involved.
What is a Changed
Circumstance?
Any borrower-requested change due to an
extraordinary event beyond anyone’s control. A
new LE must be received by the borrower
within three business days from the change.
What are the requirements for
advertising under TILA?
All marketing materials must have the company name,
company NMLS number, phone number, address, equal
housing logo, and an APR. All advertising must be kept
for two years from the last date used.
What is the definition of
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)?
APR is expressed as a percentage that
represents the total costs paid over the term of
a loan. This includes any fees or mortgage
insurance associated with the transaction.
What does APR stand for?
Annual Percentage Rate – the cost
of the loan over the life of the
loan, quoted as a percentage rate
What is a CHARM booklet?
A booklet that is required for all ARM
loans. It is issued at least three days
from the signed application
What is the Loan Estimate
(LE)?
A disclosure of all terms and costs of the loan,
to be issued when you have all the items under
PENCIL, and within three business days of the
signed application
What does QM stand for?
Qualified Mortgage – all conforming
conventional loans must meet the
standards
What are the two ways a
conventional conforming loan
can meet QM Standards?
Option #1: 43% maximum DTI and maximum
3% in fees. Option #2: Approved eligible from
Fannie or Freddie and meet the HigherPriced Lending triggers
What is Safe Harbor?
If you meet either of the two options under QM
that showed you proved Ability to Repay
requirement, you are protected from a lawsuit
What is the punishment if you
do not meet QM Standards?
Up to three years interest, all loan
costs, and legal costs for both
sides
If an MLO is paid commissions,
what can the commissions based
on?
Basis points under your Loan Originator
Agreement, times the loan amount. No terms
or costs of the loan can be counted.
What does UDAAP stand for?
Unfair, Deceptive, or
Abusive Acts or Practices
What Does Unfair, Deceptive, or
Abusive Acts or Practices state?
It is unlawful for any provider of
consumer financial products or services or a
service provider to engage in any unfair,
deceptive, or abusive act or practice
If a company pays a bonus or
retirement donation, what are the
criteria for determining the amount?
Number of loans, dollar amount
originated for a specific time, and/or the closing
rate on your applications. Bonuses are limited
to 10% of the last 12 months’ compensation.
What does Reg N Cover?
Mortgage Acts and Practices
What does Mortgage Acts and
Practices require?
If you don’t have a program or rate, do not
advertise it, and do not use Bait and Switch tactics,
or language or terms that would indicate to a
borrower you do not want them to apply
What is Bait and Switch?
Advertising a lower rate or a program
that may not exist to entice consumers, and
then when they call, you offer them another
less-attractive program.
What is not included in Digital
Delivery?
Faxing or e-mail. Docu-sign or E-sign are
acceptable where the person can be verified,
and the documents are time stamped as they
are sent back and forth.
What are the requirements for
Digital Delivery?
The borrower must give you written approval,
have the right to go back to hard copy, and you
must determine, to the best of your ability, if the
borrower is technically able to do the process
What does CFPB stand for?
Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau
What are duties of the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau?
They have the power to write, implement
regulations, investigate, and issues fines
or other penalties as needed
Who does the CFPB answer to?
The President
What is a Consumer?
*** Someone who obtains a financial product or
service from a financial institution that is to be
used primarily for personal, family, or household
purposes, like applying for a loan (whether they
accept the loan or not).
How many days do you have to
send an adverse action notice?
30 days, mailed or verbal
TILA Trigger terms
Balance, term, APR (rate),
payment
Flood Insurance
Stays until the loan is paid off
How many months reserves are
needed for non-owneroccupied properties?
6 months
What is excessive value?
An appraisal term to express a
value higher than the highest in
the neighborhood
What is the flood
insurance
requirement?
Enough to cover the loan
amount
What is the hazard insurance
requirement?
Enough to cover the loan
amount
What are the payment options
for ARMs?
15 years, 30 years,
Negative/Minimum
Servicing loan estimates need to
be given within what time frame?
3 days
What are the manufactured
home financing
requirements?
*** Home must be on a permanent foundation and
the land must be titled as real
property. The HUD Data Plate
must be on the home
What is the VA back-end ratio?
41%, including housing,
utilities, and all other debts
How much hazard insurance
is required on a reverse
mortgage?
100% of the loan amount
What is the minimum down
payment?
FHA: 3.5%
Conventional: 3%
What does the cost
approach
include?
Depreciation, Square Footage,
and Replacement Cost
With the Sales Comparison
Approach, what adjustments are
allowed?
Net adjustments of 15%
and gross adjustments of
25% to comparables
What do riders include?
PUD, ARM, Balloon Payment,
Prepayment Penalty
What is a
Hybrid Loan?
A loan that performs like a fixed and adjustable-rate
loan. It has a fixed rate for an
initial period before turning into
an ARM.
What is a non-warrantable
condo?
FNMA will not do the loan
Condo-conversion= non warrantable
HOA, 51% owner occupied
FHA loans are only for
what types of properties?
Owner-Occupied
Properties
What is a grace
period?
A period of extra time allowed for
making a payment without incurring
a late penalty
What does Title VII include?
Discrimination, Sexual
Harassment, Hostile Workplace
What is the FHA loan
verification of child support?
Divorce decree and 3 months
of cancelled checks
What are the types of title
policies?
Final, Termite, Engineer
Certification of Foundation
What must happen in order to
transfer an FHA case number?
Request must come from
borrower
What is the UFMIP %?
1.75%
How is monthly MIP
calculation done?
On base loan amount before
UFMIP
What is the active-duty vet 1st
time funding fee at 100%?
2.30%
What is the FHA loan minimum
living time before resale?
91 days from consummation
with second appraisal
How is a GLBA notice
delivery given out?
Mailed, given personally, or
faxed
How do tenants in common
mortgages work?
Each owner has their own share of
the property that they can pass on
in their will
What information is covered in
the privacy rule of GLBA?
Non-public information, including any
information an individual gives you to get a
financial product or service; i.e., credit reports,
banking info, unlisted home telephone numbers
What is on the deed of trust
agreement?
Metes and bounds, legal
description, attached riders, name
of borrower
What is an ongoing business
relationship?
Customer
How long is the FIRREA statute
of limitations loan fraud?
10 years
How often must the aggregate
accounting escrow be reviewed?
Every 12 months, cushion up
to 2 months
What is a Chain of Title?
*** The ownership history of a piece of land,
from its first owner to the present one
Which types of loans are
Assumable?
*** VA, FHA if stated in the deed
How much is title insurance
coverage on reverse?
150% of original loan amount
What is settlement service per
RESPA?
Title insurance, appraisal, relator
commission, credit report, title report,
termite certificate
What is AQB?
National appraiser group
What percentage of a VA
loan is guaranteed?
*** Up to 50% of a loan up to $45,000. Between
45,000 and $144,000, the minimum is
$22,500 and the max of up to 40% of the
loan up to $36,000.
What is a notice of transfer?
Includes toll free number of new and
old servicer and effective date, 15
days before transfer
When are LE requirements not
required?
They are not required on commercial
loans, loans denied within three days,
or bridge/swing loans
What is a “due on sale”
clause?
A clause in a loan or promissory note that
stipulates that the full balance of the loan may be
called due (repaid in full) upon sale or transfer of
ownership of the property used to secure the note
How often do telemarketers
update the DNC?
31 days
After someone requests you to put
them on your DNC list, how many days
do you have to do so?
30 days
How long does a conventional
loan owner agree to occupy the
property?
1 year
What are the guidelines for
appraisers?
USPAP
Where is the Prepayment
penalty disclosed?
*** Rider to trust deed LE/CD
Which loan requires a large final
loan payment, as it does not fully
amortize?
Balloon
What is included in typical
property inspections?
Verification that required repairs
have been made, termite, well,
septic, and roof
Joint Tenants
Ownership automatically
transferred on death to other
owners, cannot be a corporation
What is a Bridge loan?
A loan which occurs between
the termination of one
mortgage and the
beginning of the next
What affects mortgage
interest rates?
Unemployment report,
consumer price index, federal
reserve board
What affects PMI?
LTV, ARM, Term, FICO
What is an indemnity
agreement?
With a real estate indemnity agreement, one
party is pledging to protect another from any
kind of financial loss or from a lawsuit of some
kind
What is the required
fire/hazard insurance amount?
*** Enough to cover the loan
amount
What is LIBOR?
London Inter Bank Offered
Rate
What is the max seller paid
closing costs for Conventional,
FHA/USD, and VA loans?
Down: | S. P.
Conv: <10% | 3%
10-25% | 6%
25+ % | 9%
FAA/USD: 6%
VA: 4%
What is the right of rescission?
A right, set forth by TILA, of a borrower to cancel a home
equity or line of credit with a new lender, or to cancel a
refinance transaction done with another lender other
than the current mortgagee, within three days of closing
Which form states that the borrower
must occupy the property as primary
residence within 60 days?
FNMA FHLML Form 3072
What are the different
appraisal types?
*** Cost: Cost to replace; usually newer construction
Income: Income producing properties
Sales Comparison (Market): Compare to other
similar properties
When was the Dodd-Frank
Act created?
2010
What are Mortgage Backed Securities?
A type of asset-backed security
that is secured by a mortgage
or collection of mortgages
Lower-cost MI with loan level
price adjustment
Borrower with high credit scores.
The borrower can have lower MI but
FNMA will pay less for the loan
What does plain language title
insurance do?
Protects the buyer:
1. Rights of claims of 3rd parties
2. Easements or claims of it not in the public record
3. Forced removal of existing structure
4. Mechanics lien coverage (unrecorded)
What is the appraiser trainee
period?
12 months
Who are the big players
on the Secondary
Market?
FNMA, FHLMC, and
GNMA
Someone on the DNC list contacts
you. How long can you continue to
call?
3 months
What are the high-cost
limits with APR and point
fees?
APR:
6.5 on 1st or 8.5% on 1st less than 501c or 2nd
Points Fees:
5% + on $20,000+ loan or 8% on less than 20,000
Where can acceptable down payments come from?
- selling an asset
- an employer
- family
- a fiance
Which financial and non-financial companies are covered by the Bank Secrecy Act?
Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Bankers, and Mortgage Brokers
Who is required to take the AML and Fraud Training?
All staff and management
How often does the AML and fraud training have to be done?
Once a year
Does fraud or money laundering have to be proven or just detected?
Only detected
If AML or fraud is detected, who do you report it to?
Compliance officer or Senior Officer
What is the name of the report that is to be filed if fraud or AML is detected?
SAR – Suspicious Activity
Report
Which government agency is
responsible for the Bank Secrecy Act?
FinCEN - Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network
If a SAR is reported, how long
does the file have to be kept in a secure place?
Five years
Can the borrower be told a SAR has been reported on them?
No – information on SARs is to be kept confidential for a five year period
Who is allowed to see the file
once it has been reported as a SAR?
Police Authority or anyone
approved by FinCEN to see the information
Who is the person responsible for SAR files and releasing information?
Compliance Officer or Senior Officer
What is the penalty for violating the Bank Secrecy Act?
A person convicted of money
laundering can face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000
What is required under the U.S. Patriot Act?
All borrowers are required to show personal identification: either a driver’s license or passport
What does OFAC stand for?
Office of Foreign Asset Control
What is required if a borrower is on the OFAC watch list?
The lender must call OFAC and report the person and ask what is to be done with the loan
What does HPA stand for?
Homeowners Protection Act
What is required under the Homeowners Protection Act?
All loans about 80% LTV must have Mortgage Insurance if they are Conventional Conforming Loans
What is the purpose of Private Mortgage Insurance?
To provide security to the lender in case of default. Also allows borrower to make a smaller down payment.
What does MIP stand for?
Mortgage Insurance Premium
for FHA Loans
Under the Homeowners
Protection Act, what is available
to the borrower at 80% LTV?
The borrower can request that the PMI be dropped but it is at the option of the lender
When is PMI required to be dropped under the Homeowners Protection
78% Loan to Value (LTV)
What does QM stand for?
Qualified Mortgage
What is one of the options for
a loan to meet QM standards?
Approved eligible from Fannie
Mae or Freddie Mac and higher priced lending standards are met
What is the penalty if you close a Conventional Conforming loan without QM approval?
Up to three years interest, all loan costs, and legal costs for both sides of the lawsuit
What does Safe Harbor mean?
The lender has proven the
borrower has the Ability to Repay (ATR)
What does LO Comp stand for?
Loan Officer Compensation