If in doubt, get a license.

I am being barraged by questions regarding commercial lending and the need or not to be licensed. The area is not as grey as you may think. The problem is many commercial lenders disguise what would otherwise be a RESPA loan on a 1-4 family – by using LLCs. These lenders and brokers are completely ignoring the legal doctrine of beneficial ownership. And many times these lenders and brokers actually believe that no auditor or regulator has ever seen this scheme before. Really?

I believe that the best business practice for any person originating any kind of mortgage residential or commercial – is to obtain the proper license first.

RESPA is applicable to all “federally related mortgage loans,” except as provided under 1024.5(b). “Federally related mortgage loans” are defined as:  1.A loan secured with a first or subordinate lien on residential property  2.Where a one to four family unit is located  3.Where a properly qualified manufactured home is located or to be constructed 4. Where the loan is made by a proper creditor, lender, or dealer 5. If the loans are insured by an agency of the federal government 6. If the loan is intended to be sold to HUD, FNMA, FHLMC, USDA, or the VA 7. If the loan is a home equity conversion mortgage or reverse mortgage subject to federal regulations.

A true commercial loan is a mortgage loan made on a property that is NOT residential (a 1-4 family unit) and where there is NO possibility the true owner or beneficial owner might occupy the property either as a primary or as a secondary. That goes for citizens or legal aliens or consumers of any kind – if the property is a RESPA property that is going to be used by them it will not matter who you call the borrower or how you try to hide the true ownership. A 1-4 family might fall into an exception but the overwhelming position will be that if it is a 1-4, it is a RESPA loan requiring licensing.

To provide a resource for you that will put all this information on one blog entry, I am providing the following list of state requirements.

The following states may require licensing to originate commercial mortgage real estate loans.

One more time – commercial mortgage loans means a loan secured by real estate that is not a residential 1 to 4 family dwelling.

These states require licensing. Arizona California Illinois North Dakota Nebraska Nevada (Company and LO) South Dakota (Company and LO)

These states show that a license may be required. That means get a license. District of Columbia North Carolina

These states require a license to broker these types of loans. Michigan (Real Estate Broker) – Brokering Only Minnesota (Limited Real Estate Broker) – Brokering Only New York (Real Estate Broker)- Brokering Only New Jersey (Real Estate Broker)- Brokering Only

Regarding FLORIDA – “Most” commercial companies are exempt in Florida providing the property is not a 1-4 family unit or the entity is not a sham LLC. The word “most” is the issue. This is a regulator grey area.

Business Purpose Residential Mortgage Loans – The famous Reg Z exemption 226.3: Brokers and Lenders often refer to non-owner occupied business purpose residential mortgage loans as commercial loans. The following states may require licensing: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.

Here’s my take. Get a license. It increases your credibility and avoids you being pulled into a situation where the regulator believes you needed a license to originate or make the loan. If the regulator believes it, you will lose the argument. Of course, this is just my opinion.

Respectfully,

Nelson A. Locke, Esq.

Mortgage Industry Compliance Expert

Office (800) 656-4584

http://www.lockelaw.us

http://expertlenderservices.com

 

 

 

The CFPB, the CD, and the Realtors…….

Before you go any further, the key word is PROPOSED.

1.   The CFPB has issued a proposed rule with request for public comment containing both substantive amendments and technical corrections (collectively, Proposed Amendments) to the final TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule that became effective on October 3, 2015.  In a press release the CFPB advised that the Proposed Amendments are “intended to formalize guidance in the rule, and provide greater clarity and certainty.”  Comments are due on or before October 18, 2016.  The CFPB is proposing that the final rule based on the proposal would be effective 120 days after publication in the Federal Register, but is expressly requesting comment on the timeframe to implement the Proposed Amendments. THIS MEANS MOST LIKELY EARLY IN 2017.

2.   Four of the Proposed Amendments that are highlighted by the CFPB in the press release would (1) create a tolerance for the total of payment calculation; (2) exclude recording fees and transfer taxes from the one percent fee limit that applies to the TRID rule exemption for down payment assistance and similar subordinate lien loans often made by housing finance agencies, non-profits, and similar entities; (3) amend the scope of the TRID rule to cover units in a cooperative, whether or not they are considered real property; (4) clarify how a creditor may provide separate Closing Disclosures to the consumer and the seller through the removal of information that raises privacy concerns.THE REALTORS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THE CD – IF YOU HAVE BEEN GIVING IT TO THE REALTOR YOU MAY HAVE BEEN VIOLATING THE CURRENT PRIVACY RULES – AND IF THIS NEW PROPOSAL IS APPROVED THIS CHANGE WILL HAPPEN AFTER JANUARY, SO DON’T START PASSING OUT CDs LIKE CANDY UNTIL IT IS OK TO DO SO. 

3.   In addition to the CD/Realtor item, the CFPB proposal would make numerous other changes including a change that addresses the so-called “black hole” by providing creditors with greater flexibility to use the Closing Disclosure to reset tolerances.  Currently, only the Loan Estimate may be used to reset tolerances, subject to an exception that permits a creditor to use a Closing Disclosure to reset tolerances in a limited situation.  Essentially, the exception applies when the creditor would not have sufficient time after learning of a change to be able to issue a new Loan Estimate and also satisfy the pre-consummation waiting period requirements under the TRID rule.  The exception has proven to be too narrow in many cases resulting in creditors having to absorb increases in fees or require that the consumer reapply for a loan.  OR CHARGE THE BROKER A CURE FEE. To address these unintended consequences, the CFPB proposes to expand the exception to include both (1) the current situation that is based on the timeframe between when a creditor learns of a change requiring revised disclosures and the consummation of the loan, and (2) any situation in which a Closing Disclosure has already been issued.

4.   Other topics addressed by the Proposed Amendments include affiliate charges, the calculating cash to close table, construction loans, decimal places and rounding, escrow account disclosures, escrow cancellation notices, the treatment of gift funds, the written list of service providers (no surprise there), the distinction between model forms and sample forms, principal reductions, the summaries of transactions table, the total interest percentage calculation, and informational updates to the Loan Estimate.

5.  Now about us. We are attorney owned and our attorney has 24 years experience as a Mortgage Banker. That should speak for itself. Most of our competition does not have that combination of experience. They sell you “policies” and walk away. The CFPB recently identified this type of off the shelf no relationship compliance program as a red flag for examiners. We don’t do that. We offer annual engagements at one price and are with you all year for training, updates, and all your Q&A.

Request our Engagement Package today and we can have your Compliance Program  in really good shape within three weeks.

And you will feel much better about not having to face the regulators alone. But if you try to engage us after you have received your Audit Letter, the price will go up.

 (800) 656-4584