NMLS Flash Cards
What is the required pass
rate for the NMLS Test and
how long is it?
75% of 115 questions. The test has
12 0 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 8 items are restricted under HOEPA NAPPEBAS?
NAPPEBAS
Negative Amortization
Abusive Lending Practices,
Predatory Lending
Prepayment Penalties,
Equity Stripping
Balloon Lending,
Ability to Repay (ATR) not meeting requirements
Subprime Lending
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 Reg for High-Cost Loans?
Section 1026.32
What are the three triggers for
High-Cost Lending? (has Percentages)
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 Higher-Priced 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?
TIE5-MC-2A-mW-nB
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?
TIE5-nAw
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?
(UDAAA)
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?
FAD
Disability, Familial Status, and Age
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 a 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?
F
T
C
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 are the 3 arms of GLB
SOP
The Safeguard Rule
The Opt-Out Rule
The Pretexing Rule
What is the REG for Gramm
Leach 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 database.
What is Phishing or Pre- Texting?
Obtaining personal information by illegal process, like a text, claiming
to be from the IRS, asking for your SSN
What is required under Safe-Guard 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?
(3) Three years for all loan files and
(5) 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 an 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 includes 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 no one contacts that person. This overrides the 18-month and 90
day exemption.
What are the eight items covered under TILA? Mallqach
Mallqach
MDIA Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act
Advertising
Loan Estimate (LE)
Loan Officer Compensation
Qualified Mortgage (QM)
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
CHARM Booklet
HOEPA
What Does MDIA stand for?
Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act
What does Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) cover?
(pliccia)
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 of 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 eligibility from Fannie or Freddie and meet the Higher-Priced 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 of interest, all loan costs, and legal costs for both sides
If an MLO is paid commissions, what can the commissions be 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 (UDAAP) 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 (MAP)
What does (MAP) 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 the duties of the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?
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
(4 things)
Balance, term, APR (rate), payment
Flood Insurance
Stays until the loan is paid off
How many months reserves are needed for non-owner-occupied properties?
6 months
What is Excessive Value?
(related to appraisal)
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?
on conventional and FHA
Conventional: 3%
FHA: 3.5%
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%
Gross adjustments of 25%
to comparables
What do riders include?
(4 things) PABP
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 (7) include?
(3 things)
Discrimination, Sexual Harassment,
Hostile Workplace
What is the FHA loan verification of
child support?
Divorce decree and 3 months
of canceled 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 % (percent)?
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 the borrower
What is an ongoing business relationship?
Customer
How long is the FIRREA statute of limitations on 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 the original loan amount
What is AQB?
National appraiser group
What is settlement service per RESPA?
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 is 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?
(3 things)
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?
(3 places)
Rider to trust deed
and LE/CD
Which loan requires a large final loan payment, as it does not fully amortize?
Balloon
What is included in typical property inspections?
(5 things)
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?
(4 things)
LTV, ARM, Term, F I CO
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?
CONVENTIONAL <10% then 3% - 10 to 25% then 6% - 25+% then 9%
FHA/USD: 6%
VA: 4%
What is the max seller-paid closing costs for Conventional, FHA/USD, and VA loans?
Down Payment on Conventional
<10% - Seller Paid = 3%
10-25% Seller Paid = 6%
25+% Seller Paid = 9%
FHA/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 a 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?
(MERF)
Protects the buyers:
1. Rights of claims of 3rd parties
2. Easements or claims of it not in the public record
3. Forced removal of an 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: LOOK THIS UP AND VERIFY
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 fiancé
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?
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 eligibility 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 of 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