Mortgage Training and Education Licensing

THIS Message is for Mr. Mike Neill. Can GCA Oakbrook Terrace get loan officers from AXEN do third party processing? Mr. Bill Burger-King said we could. Can we explore that possibility.

To become a loan officer, you need to complete a 20 hour pre-licensing course and pass the 125 hour three hour national NMLS federal exam. The key in passing the national NMLS exam is to go through hundreds of practice multiple choice question. I highly recommend Angie Crippen of On Course Learning. Angie is hands on and will go above and beyond to get you what you need, whether it is now passing the 125 hour course or throughout your mortgage career. Below is the link the NMLS mortgage licensing school On Course Learning with Angie Crippen as our account executive.

https://gustancho.com/mlo-license-school/

• This discussion was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Gustan Cho.

gustancho.com

MLO License School

MLO License School

QuickBooks for Mortgage Brokerages: Complete Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about using QuickBooks specifically for your mortgage brokerage:

Recommended QuickBooks Versions

QuickBooks Online Plus or Advanced is ideal for mortgage brokers because:

• Multi-branch tracking capabilities and ease of access across locations The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up QuickBooks for a Mortgage Broker Branch Model
• Class Tracking feature, which is only available in Plus or Advanced The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up QuickBooks for a Mortgage Broker Branch Model
• Advanced reporting for complex commission structures

Key Features for Mortgage Brokers
1. Commission Tracking & Management

• Track individual loan officer commissions and splits
• Separate income by loan type (purchase, refinance, etc.)
• Monitor pipeline commissions vs. closed commissions
• Handle 1099 reporting for independent contractors

2. Chart of Accounts Setup

Custom chart of accounts, automated bank feeds, and transaction rules for streamlined bookkeeping How to Set Up QuickBooks Online for Mortgage Brokers: A Step-By-Step Guide specifically designed for mortgage operations:

Income Accounts:

• Commission Income – Purchase Loans
• Commission Income – Refinance Loans
• Yield Spread Premium Income
• Processing Fees
• Other Mortgage-Related Income

Expense Accounts:

• Origination costs, and compliance expenses How to Set Up QuickBooks Online for Mortgage Brokers: A Step-By-Step Guide
• Marketing & Lead Generation
• Loan Officer Commissions
• Compliance & Licensing Fees
• Professional Services (appraisals, credit reports)

3. Branch Management

For multi-branch operations:

• Use Class Tracking to separate different locations
• Track profitability by branch
• Allocate shared expenses across locations
• Generate branch-specific reports

4. Industry-Specific Reporting

• Commission pipeline reports
• Loan officer performance tracking
• Monthly production summaries
• Compliance expense tracking
• Cash flow forecasting based on loan pipeline

Setup Considerations for Mortgage Brokers
Bank Account Integration

• Connect business checking, savings, and trust accounts
• Set up automatic transaction categorization rules
• Separate trust account transactions (critical for compliance)

Customer Management

• Track borrower information (limited due to privacy requirements)
• Monitor referral source performance
• Manage vendor relationships (appraisers, processors, etc.)

Inventory Tracking

• Track loan pipeline as “inventory”
• Monitor loans in various stages
• Calculate potential commission income

Integration Capabilities

QuickBooks integrates well with popular mortgage industry tools:

• Loan Origination Systems (LOS): Encompass, Calyx Point, BytePro
• CRM Systems: Top Producer, Chime, Wise Agent
• Compliance Tools: MISMO standards, audit trail systems
• Marketing Platforms: Lead generation and tracking systems

Compliance Benefits

• Audit Trail: Complete transaction history for regulatory reviews
• Trust Account Management: Separate tracking for client funds
• Record Retention: Automatic backup and record keeping
• Financial Reporting: Generate reports for regulatory compliance

Pricing Structure

QuickBooks Online Plans for Mortgage Brokers:

• Plus ($45/month): Good for smaller brokerages (up to 5 users)
• Advanced ($100+/month): Better for larger operations with advanced reporting needs
• Payroll Add-on: Essential if you have W-2 employees

Common Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Complex Commission Structures

Solution: Use job tracking and classes to separate different commission arrangements and splits

Challenge: Trust Account Management

Solution: Set up separate company files or use bank sub-accounts with strict reconciliation procedures

Challenge: Pipeline vs. Closed Loan Tracking

Solution: Use estimates for pipeline loans, convert to invoices when closed

Best Practices for Mortgage Brokers

1. Daily Bank Reconciliation: Critical for trust account compliance
2. Monthly Commission Reports: Track individual and company performance
3. Quarterly Tax Preparation: Maintain organized records for easy tax filing
4. Annual Compliance Audits: Keep detailed transaction records

Alternatives to Consider

While QuickBooks is excellent, some brokers prefer:

• Xero: Better user interface, similar features
• Industry-Specific Software: LendingPad or Encompass with built-in accounting
• Enterprise Solutions: For very large brokerages

Getting Started

1. Choose QuickBooks Online Plus or Advanced
2. Set up mortgage-specific chart of accounts
3. Connect all business bank accounts
4. Establish transaction categorization rules
5. Train staff on proper transaction coding
6. Consider hiring a QuickBooks ProAdvisor familiar with mortgage industry

Would you like me to elaborate on any specific aspect of using QuickBooks for your mortgage brokerage?

Yes

Which specific aspect of using QuickBooks for your mortgage brokerage would you like me to elaborate on? Here are some areas I can dive deeper into:

1. Setting up your Chart of Accounts – Detailed account structure and coding system for mortgage operations
2. Commission Tracking Systems – How to set up and manage complex commission splits, pipeline tracking, and loan officer compensation
3. Trust Account Management – Compliance requirements and proper setup for handling client funds
4. Integration with Loan Origination Systems – Connecting QuickBooks with your LOS, CRM, and other mortgage software
5. Reporting and Analytics – Creating custom reports for loan production, profitability analysis, and regulatory compliance
6. Tax Preparation and 1099 Management – Year-end processes for independent contractors and tax reporting
7. Multi-branch Setup – Managing multiple locations or teams within QuickBooks
8. Daily Operations Workflow – Step-by-step processes for entering transactions, reconciling accounts, and maintaining records
9. Compliance and Audit Preparation – Record-keeping requirements and audit trail management
10. Getting Started Guide – Initial setup process, account migration, and staff training

• This discussion was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Sapna Sharma.

GCA Mortgage Best Mortgage Calculator powered by Alex Carlucci is used by loan companies. Mortgage processors, mortgage underwriters real l estate brokers, loan officers, realtors, bankers. attorneys, insurance agents, and other mortgage and real estate professionals. Here is a presentation about the GCAs Best Mortgage Calculator powered by Alex Carlucci

https://youtu.be/qUodKgoQ8Tg?si=uPxBwnKnjc7hTXdz

Utah Department of Real Estate (UTAH DRE) is the state agency that overseas the licensing for mortgage loan originators, branch managers, associate principal lending managers, and principal lending managers. Getting the UTAH NMLS MLO license requires the 20 hour NMLS pre-licensing course, and 15 hours of continuing education the first time you get licensed. To renew the UTAH NMLS MLO license requires 8 hours of standard continuing education and two additional hours of Utah state specific continuation NMLS CE course every year. To become a Utah Principal Lending Manager UTAH PLM, the candidate need to be an NMLS MLO loan originator with at least five years of experience and have originated and closed 45 mortgage loans in the past 12 months. The UTAH Principal Lending Manager candidate needs to enroll and complete a 40 hour UTAH PLM comprehensive online course which consists of UTAH state specific mortgage rules, regulations, practice, policies and procedures, fraud, ethics, state and federal laws. Any advice on getting the UTAH NMLS MLO and UTAH PLM license would be greatly appreciated.

How can I get an NMLS ID Number to get Licensed as a mortgage loan originator?

I must have called over two dozen state mortgage licensing agencies in the past week and I am getting nothing but the runaround. I also called Mortgage Educators and other NMLS mortgage licensing schools and still cannot get the answer I am looking for. The mortgage industry and regulators are making a huge deal about not being able to get an NMLS mortgage loan originator license if you have bad credit. They are saying if you are late on your payments or have derogatory information on your personal credit profile you are classified as being financially irresponsible and not fit to become a mortgage loan originator. People can go through bad times, divorce, medical, or times of unemployment where you can have bad credit without being financially irresponsible. Now my question is can you get a mortgage loan orignator license with bad credit, collections, and late payments? Thank you in advance.

Can I get an MLO licensed in TEXAS if I have a collection in my credit report and a letter saying well Fargo is suing me?

Absolutely 💯. I am a strong believer of positive criticism and not compliments. That’s how you learn and get better. A lot of people can’t take criticisms. With compliments most people take it to a new arrogance level. However, compliments are well served for people who deserve compliments. Kevin DeLory and Eddy G Perez Jr. Deserve respect and compliments for setting the foundation of EPM. There’s a reason why a mortgage company produces great employees like Christian Sorenson. It’s folks like Christian Sorenson that make a great company. It’s due to a strong foundation. Great leadership makes a great company and differentiates from the mediocre competition. Competition never sleeps. Thanks for everything you do Mr. Perez and Mr. DeLory. Giving us loan officers the opportunity to do tough loans gives the dream of homeownership become a reality for hard working Americans. You guys are the true silent heroes who are appreciated and not taken for granted. Love all your inspirational videos, sir. Don’t stop being you. Never try to miss Mr. DeLory’s videos no matter how hectic my day is.

Can anyone pass the class and the test? I heard it is harder than the real estate agent’s test.

You need to first complete the 20 hour NMLS pre-licensing course from a NMLS approved course provider. We recommend you contact Angie Crippen from Oncourse Learning. The link is listed on http://www.gustancho.com on the home page on the the box that says MLO SCHOOL. You then have to pass the National NMLS 125 question exam and get a 75%. You then apply for a license in the state of your choice. Once you get licensed, you are read tobget sponsored and hired by a mortgage company.

My spouse have a sealed theft conviction will this prevent her from getting a LO license?

What are the pre-licensing education requirements for mortgage lenders?

I am an Experienced Mortgage Loan Originator. How Can You Approach a Home Builder and Become The Builder’s Preferred Lender. Why do home builders want to use you as their preferred lender? How do you become a Preferred Lender of a Home Builder? What do home builders want of a preferred lender. The bottom line is How Do You Become a Preferred Lender For a Home Builder? What can I do to get an opportunity to become a preferred lender for a regional or national home builder?

Can i get MLO licensed in TEXAS if i have collection in my credit report and a letter saying well fargo is suing me?

Stayed tuned, people. We create, design, and develop a one-stop lending shop mortgage loan officer website. This one-in-all marketing-support-operations-business-development mega website is for select loan officers who want to be in the top 20% of the nation and belong to a team of winners. Many talented goal-oriented folks want to become top-producing loan officers but do not have the guidance, training, tools, and direction to lead them there. After a decade of research and development, making thousands of fixes, and making thousands of hours of mistakes, my team and I have mastered a mega one-stop lending shop. Training a loan officer is one of the most difficult tasks there is. There is no sure proof training program in the market place. The best way to learn to become a successful loan officer is by getting trained by a mentor. Training a loan officer is like training an attorney. Say a young lawyer graduates from an IVY LEAGUE LAW SCHOOL like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or Stanford Law School. The young, newly law school graduate masters the Bar Exam and is now licensed to practice. What NOW? How is he or she going to represent clients in court, let along simple parking tickets or simply real estate closings? Same with loan officers. You will be clueless and lost. So the best way to train a young recruit loan officer is to take a few steps backward to go forwards. A newly licensed loan officer should not even do a single loan until they have processed three to six loans themselves under the supervision of a loan processor. The loan officer will never become a master mortgage processor and I do not recommend they be one if they want to originate loans, but loan officers will be working very closely with mortgage processors on every single loan. To this day, most loan officers are clueless on how mortgage processing works and often bitch and degrade mortgage processors if shit does not go your way. Master processing, at least how it work, before you proceed to originating. In the system we will have on http://www.viralwebsitedevelopers.com, we will have a detailed training section on processing and how mortgage processing works. Once you have the basics on how mortgage processing works, the next step is to learn origination. So one of the frequently asked questions is do I need to memorize all the mortgage guidelines before proceeding. The answer is NO. There is no way you will learn and know all of the FHA, VA, USDA, FANNIE, FREDDIE, and NON-QM mortgage guidelines. Learning the guidelines is not enough. Every lender has their own lender overlays. Lender overlays are additional mortgage guidelines above and beyond the minimum guidelines of HUD, VA, USDA, FANNIE MAE, and FREDDIE MAC. However, every loan officer should know the basic agency guidelines on government and conventional loans. Everything you need to know, you can find it on http://www.gustancho.com. AGAIN, loan officers should get familiar with the basic guideline but no need to memorize it. You will go back to it often. Again, all the guidelines will be on the master website from Viral Website Developers. Remember, our mission at Viral Website Developers is to create a one-stop mortgage lending online shop with your very one virtual digital media website. So, the next step for brand new loan officers are loan officers transferring to Gustan Cho Associates on a branch level or an independent loan officer sponsored by a member of the Gustan Cho Associates family is getting leads. Again, your newly assigned one-stop shop lending virtual mega loan origination website will have an organic lead generation system which will grow and add more value as it seasons with age and content. I will continue this part at the next time I am able to continue.

• This discussion was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Sapna Sharma.
• This discussion was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Gustan Cho. Reason: Updates

The truth is that all of these loans still have the overlays of each lender, and it’s what the lender requires that matters. These SBA, HUD, USDA, and conventional loans are referrals; you only need to know some things. There are so many variations, exceptions, and special underwriting. Most nonrecourse loans still require personal guarantees; it is just that if the loan defaults, they will not come after your personal property unless there is fraud. Those carve-outs usually pertain to fraud. Fannie Mae often approves loans easier than Freddie Mac senior housing, student housing, affordable housing tax credit LIHTC usually has the highest LTVs. Often a non-profit will get 5% to 10% higher LTV. I will partner with these potential borrowers using my non-profit and HUD sponsorship status, taking 25% to 50% of the project.

Small balance loans from $1MM to $7 mm have an 80% LTV for apartments

• This discussion was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Gustan Cho.

7(a) loans

SBA’s most common loan program, which includes financial help for businesses with special requirements.

Content

1. What is a 7(a) loan?
2. Am I eligible?
3. How do I use the 7(a) loan?
4. What do I need to apply?
5. How do I pay back my 7(a) loan?
6. Existing borrowers

What is a 7(a) loan?

The 7(a) Loan Program, SBA’s most common loan program, includes financial help for small businesses with special requirements. This is a good option when real estate is part of a business purchase, but it can also be used for:

• Short- and long-term working capital
• Refinancing current business debt
• Purchasing and installation of machinery and equipment
• Purchasing furniture, fixtures, and supplies

The maximum loan amount for a 7(a) loan is $5 million. Key eligibility factors are based on what the business does to receive its income, its credit history, and where the business operates. Your lender will help you figure out which type of loan is best suited for your needs.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for 7(a) loan assistance, businesses must:

• Operate for profit
• Be considered a small business, as defined by SBA
• Be engaged in, or propose to do business in, the United States or its possessions
• Be able to demonstrate a need for a loan
• Use the funds for a sound business purpose
• Not be delinquent on any existing debt obligations to the U.S. government
• Be creditworthy and reasonably assure repayment of the loan

Some businesses may not qualify for a 7(a) loan. Read more about Terms, conditions, and eligibility.

How do I use the 7(a) loan?

Basic uses for the 7(a) loan include:

• Long- and short-term working capital
• Revolving funds based on the value of existing inventory and receivables
• The purchase of equipment, machinery, furniture, fixtures, supplies, or materials
• The purchase of real estate, including land and buildings
• The construction a new building or renovation an existing building
• Establishing a new business or assisting in the acquisition, operation or expansion of an existing business
• Refinancing existing business debt, under certain conditions

What do I need to apply?

The contents of the loan application generally vary depending on the size of the loan and the lender’s processing method. When you’re ready to apply, begin the process by working with your lender to determine which documents they will require you to provide.

The loan application documents required will generally include SBA Form 1919, Borrower’s Information Form. Use the following checklist to ensure you are prepared if your lender asks you for any of the following information:

• Borrower information form (required): Complete SBA Form 1919 and submit it to an SBA-participating lender.
• Financial statements (as applicable): The lender may require personal financial statements for the applicant(s) or owner(s) of the applicant.
• Business financial statements (as applicable): Submit the following to help show your ability to repay a loan:
  • Profit and loss statement – Current within 180 days of your application. Also include supplementary schedules from the last three fiscal years.
  • Projected financial statements – Include a detailed, one-year projection of income and finances and explain how you expect to achieve this projection.
• Ownership and affiliations: Provide a list of names and addresses of any subsidiaries and affiliates.
• Business license or certificate (as applicable): Provide a copy of the original business license or certificate of doing business. If your small business is a corporation, stamp your corporate seal on the SBA loan application form.
• Loan application history (as applicable): Include records of any loans you may have applied for in the past.
• Income tax returns (required for the lender to verify applicant’s size): Include signed business federal income tax returns of your business for the previous three years.
• Resumes (as applicable): Include personal resumes for each principal.
• Business overview and history (as applicable): Provide a history of the business and its challenges. Include an explanation of why you need the SBA loan and how it will help your business.
• Business lease (as applicable): Include a copy of your business lease, or a note from your landlord, with the terms of the proposed lease.

If you are buying an existing business, gather the following information (required):

• Current balance sheet and profit and loss statement of the business being acquired
• Federal income tax returns for the previous three years of the business being acquired
• Proposed bill of sale/purchase agreement, including the terms of sale
• Asking price with schedule of inventory, machinery and equipment, and furniture and fixtures

You may be required to submit more SBA forms based on the specific use of proceeds or fees paid on a loans package or to a broker or agent.

How do I pay back my 7(a) loan?

Loan repayment terms vary according to several factors.

• Most 7(a) term loans are repaid with monthly payments of principal and interest from the cash flow of the business
• Payments stay the same for fixed-rate loans because the interest rate is constant
• For variable rate loans, the lender may require a different payment amount when the interest rate changes

sba.gov

7(a) loans | U.S. Small Business Administration

7(a) loans | U.S. Small Business Administration

Here is a link to NEXA Academy for loan officers entering the mortgage loan origination business with no experience. It is held weekly. Contact Felix Nicolas, III at felix@gustancho.com for mortgage information.

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89826931408&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1694346718349602&usg=AOvVaw1SaYseZ2ekdT-IyEFkZRHd

Please make sure all LO’s have this

How to find active builders and spec builders.

one way is to go to realtor.com, choose a large city go to filters, click home, age no min, and less than 1 year. this should list the new construction homes. get the addresses. The agent usually doesn’t want you speaking with their client, however, call the agent anyway and let them know that you can help theri builder to build more homes, and sometimes they will introduce you. if not, then do a google search for parcel search using the city, or county, and state. Usually, they have a gis map, and you can use this to locate the owner and the owner’s address, where you can further search and get a cell phone. realtor.com is a great source to see who is building where and at what price.

realtor.com

HARD-MONEY-CONSTRUCTION.pdf 465 KB PDF - Click to view

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Here is the link for XACTUS Credit Training. It used to be Credit Plus University Training but since XACTUS took it over, it is now called XACTUS CLASSES and WEBINARS

https://xactus.com/xactus-u-classes/

xactus.com

Xactus U - Classes

Our free online classes can be accessed by Xactus customers live each day or scheduled via appointment. We even offer customized training sessions by request.

Here is a comprehensive training program from Private Mortgage Insurance Company:

https://training.enactmi.com/

training.enactmi.com

training.enactmi.com

training.enactmi.com

Here’s how you can remember the number of days in each month:

– January: 31 days

– February: 28 days in a common year and 29 days in a leap year

– March: 31 days

– April: 30 days

– May: 31 days

– June: 30 days

– July: 31 days

– August: 31 days

– September: 30 days

– October: 31 days

– November: 30 days

– December: 31 days

Here’s a traditional rhyme to help remember this:

“Thirty days hath September,

April, June, and November;

All the rest have thirty-one,

Save February, with twenty-eight days clear,

And twenty-nine each leap year.”

I will start creating a comprehensive power point training program in GCA FORUMS for brand new loan officers, and dually real estate agents and mortgage loan officers. Becoming a mortgage loan originator can be extremely lucrative, with no limit on how much you can make. However, getting licensed and passing the national NMLS exam is the easy part. The real training starts with doing deals. Any newly licensed loan officers who have yet to have two years of full ti8m experience originating mortgage loans with a minimum of 20 million in production will need to be on a six-closed loan apprenticeship training program with a senior tenured licensed loan officer at Gustan Cho Associates. What this means is the newly licensed loan officer will get trained by an experienced GCA loan officer and take six loans from qualification to closing in order for them to become independent. The training program will be comprehensive and I will link blogs that were written to this section for reference.

We are working on developing a new mortgage loan officer learning training academy for new loan officers and dually licensed realtor and MLO partners. Stay tuned.

If a NMLS licensed loan officer works for a mortgage broker and is licensed in 30 states, can the loan officer be paid their commissions by 1099 on states that he is licensed in that allow 1099 compensation and be paid W2 on states that do not allow 1099 compensation>

• This discussion was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Gustan Cho.

Debt-to-Income ratios is the most important factor besides credit scores when it comes to qualifying and getting approved for government or conventional mortgage loans. Debt-to-income ratios determine the borrower’s ability to repay their mortgage loan. Here is an easy to read guide about debt-to-income ratios

FHA Debt-To-Income Ratio Requirements

https://gustancho.com/fha-debt-to-income-ratio-requirements/

gustancho.com

FHA Debt-To-Income Ratio Requirements

FHA Debt-To-Income Ratio Requirements is 46.9% front and 56.9% back-end on AUS-approved. 40 front and 50 back-end on manual underwrites.

How can you automate marketing for loan officers and real estate agents during tough times like now in the mortgage and real estate market.

There are about ten states that do not allow mortgage loan originators to be paid by 1099 from their mortgage brokerage company. How does Illinois stand on loan officers to be paid by 1099?

By June 2023, over 60,000 Mortgage Loan Originators have left the mortgage industry due to inflation, surging mortgage rates, skyrocketing homes prices, regulations, and low housing inventory. Another 50,000 loan officers are not expected to renew their loan origination licenses. Being a loan officer is not the most glamorous career today. Thousands of mortgage companies have or are thinking of leaving the Mortgage Industry. Rates are at historic high, the secondary market is unstable, lenders are scared to lend, economists are forecasting a housing market crash, inflation is soaring daily, and the Federal Reserve Board is absolutely clueless. So is now the time to be in the mortgage industry?

https://youtu.be/hocJn_xcm5s?si=VGOzvS-9DWY37q-J