Loan Officer Gustan Cho
Loan OfficerForum Replies Created
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I want to share my experience studying, taking practice exams, and registering for the Utah Principal Lending Manager exam. This Utah PLM exam was not a hard test. The problem is that you cannot get hundreds or thousands of practice exams: Questions and Answers. The NMLS schools that offer the Utah Principal Lending Manager Exam are limited to two or three. These schools offer limited practice tests on questions and answers on Utah PLM exams. I want to thank Angie Crippen of OnCourse Learning, who went above and beyond in helping me, my assistant Marga Jurilla, and my National Operations Manager, Angie Torres. This exam was the Utah PLM – the Test From Hell. As I told you folks, the Utah PLM exam was not difficult. The hard part was when you take the exam, a 3- or 5-hour multiple-choice test consisting of 225 questions; the computer will display your score. The great advantage of the Utah Principal Lending Manager exam is that you do not have to retake the sections of the test that you have passed. The bad part is when Pearson Vue computes your score; for example, my first time taking the Utah PLM exam was a 69%, I missed it by one percentage point. I do not have the test booklet to study which questions I got wrong or correct. It was a real brain teaser. Therefore, I tried to remember the questions I was unsure of and took the exam again the second time. The second time around, taking the Utah PLM exam, I think I scored a 62%, which was worse than the first time score of 69%. You see, I changed my correct answers and put the wrong answer. Therefore, my score was worse. Then there was a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and so on. I took the Utah Principal Lending Manager Test multiple times, where I showed up to the test center every day, and the staff and proctors at Pearson Vue knew me by my first name. When I passed the Utah Principal Lending Manager test on April 15th, 2024, I was ecstatic, and the entire support, ops, and proctor staff at Pearson Vue screamed in joy. I do not know how and why I passed, but I passed. I bought pizza and drinks for lunch for all the staff at Pearson Vue in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and thanked them for their support. Now, was I home free? Hell no. Al Jurilla, Marga Jurilla, and Angie Torres have diligently worked to submit my Utah Principal Lending Manager application to the Utah Department of Real Estate. I do not know exactly the true details of the back-and-forth, and I will have Marga Jurilla, Al, or Angie Torres explain, but this damn test was only good for 90 days. One year has passed, and Mr. Mike Paige, the Utah Department of Real Estate and Mortgage regulator, denied my application. WTF!!!! Long story short, I told my staff there is no way in Hell I am going to retest the UTAH PLM exam. A couple of weeks passed, and Marga emailed the UTAH PLM certification, which means I have passed the exam. It was reincarnation. I will ask Marge and Angie if they can add to this post so that whatever happened to me will not happen to you. Marga and Angie, can you please fill in the details? Thank you.
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Here’s Chase. He’s still growing and getting bigger.
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Skylar is my baby. She sleeps next to me and follows me wherever I go. Bailey is still skittish. Gets along with my wife and nobody else. Chase gets along with everyone.
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Here’s a video from September 12, 2024. Chase teasing Lilly and other dogs 🐕 😍 💕 ❤️ to play tag in back yard.
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In the U.S., the housing and mortgage market is as follows on Friday, May 2, 2025:
Rates & Lending Activities
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.76%, down from last week.
15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages: These rates now sit at 5.93%, which is lower than before and beneficial to borrowers looking for shorter lending terms.
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): The average rate for the 5/1 ARM rose slightly to 6.19%, indicating some volatility in the adjustable-rate market.
Refinance Rates: Refinance rates are largely unchanged as the 30-year fixed rate is 6.79%.
Real Estate Market Conditions
Home Prices:
Real estate prices also continue to rise, with the national median existing home price now at $402,300, a 3.4% increase from last year.
Inventory Levels:
Home inventory surged as the number of houses listed for sale exceeded one million for the first time since 2019.
Buyer Sentiment:
Americans’ perception of the housing market is negative. A Gallup report shows that 72% of Americans view this as a bad time to purchase a home due to its associated costs.
Trends & Policies Updates
Construction:
CRH, a major building materials producer, foresees a lagged recovery for the U.S. residential construction market. It expects a recovery in 2026 owing to the persistent damage the economy suffers from high interest rates and inflation.
Building Construction Code Improvements:
Supporters claim that U.S. building codes should be changed to permit single-stair, 6-story walk-up apartments, as seen in European architectural design. They state that this could decrease construction expenses by 10% and expand the housing supply in the market. On the other hand, fire safety authorities raise issues regarding potential dangers.
Watch the Economic and Housing Market Update from Realtor.com for May 2, 2025, if you want further details.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you require region-specific information or have other inquiries!
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As of Thursday, May 8, 2025, the snapshot of the U.S. housing and mortgage market is as follows:
Mortgage Rates & Lending Trends30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates:
The average remains unchanged from the previous week at 6.76%, lower than last year’s 7.09%.
15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates:
These have decreased slightly to 5.89%, down from 5.92% last week.
Refinance Rates:
Concerns over inflation alongside a potential economic slowdown are causing average refinance rates to fluctuate between 6.5% and 7%.
Regional Variations:
California, New York, Florida, and Texas residents are offered some of the lowest rates, ranging between 6.71% and 6.88%. In contrast, West Virginia, Illinois, and Alaska sit in the higher average bracket, experiencing rates between 6.97% and 7.06%. Housing Market Conditions
Inventory Levels:
The total number of homes available for sale in the United States has exceeded one million, marking the highest since 2019. This occurs as sellers return to the housing market, while demand remains tempered due to affordability issues.
Home Prices:
The National Association of REALTORS® notes that during the first quarter of 2025, 80% of metro areas recorded increased median home prices. The median price for single-family homes in the United States rose by 3.4%, reaching $402,300. Syracuse, NY, notably recorded the highest annual price growth, soaring at 17.9%.
National Association of REALTORS®
Market Sentiment:
As reported by Gallup, a survey of American adults showed that only 26% of respondents believe that the current period is favorable to buying a home. Among non-homeowners surveyed, only a third expected to purchase a home within five years, indicating growing affordability issues and chronic affordability challenges.
Industry Outlook & Policy Developments
Orders Construction Sector:
CRH, the largest producer of building materials in the United States, expects a further delayed recovery in the residential construction market, now forecasting a rebound in 2026. This is due to sustained high interest rates and inflation.
Building Code Reforms: Campaigners argue that U.S. building codes should be revised to permit the construction of single-stair six-story apartment buildings, a design prevalent in Europe. Supporters claim this could reduce construction costs by 10% while increasing the number of available housing units. On the other hand, officials concerned with fire safety voice concerns over potential threats.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for tailored queries about mortgage rates in Illinois or specific trends in the Chicago housing market!
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I’m truly sorry to hear about the fear and uncertainty your friends in Little Village are experiencing. This situation underscores the importance of accessible legal support and community resources for immigrant communities. Here are several organizations in Chicago that offer legal assistance and support to immigrants:
🏛️ Legal Aid Organizations in Chicago
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Legal Aid Chicago
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Services: Provides free legal services to low-income individuals and families in areas including immigration, housing, and public benefits.
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Contact: (312) 341-1070
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Website: legalaidchicago.orgNational Immigrant Justice Center+1Immigration Advocates Network+1Justia+1IDHS+1Legal Aid Chicago+1LinkedIn+1
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National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
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Services: Offers legal representation for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including assistance with DACA, asylum applications, and detention issues.
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Contact: (312) 660-1370
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Website: immigrantjustice.orgNational Immigrant Justice Center
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Instituto del Progreso Latino
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Services: Provides immigration legal services, including naturalization assistance and family-based petitions.
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Contact: (773) 890-0055
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Website: institutochicago.orgImmigration Advocates Networkinstitutochicago.org
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Latinos Progresando
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Services: Offers immigration legal services and community engagement programs, focusing on serving Latino immigrant communities.
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Contact: (773) 542-7077
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Website: latinospro.orgTRP IMMIGRANT JUSTICE+3JCFS Chicago+3IDHS+3
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Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
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Services: Provides a broad range of legal counseling and representation to immigrants, including citizenship and family reunification assistance.
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Contact: (312) 655-7000
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📚 Additional Resources
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Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)
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Services: Connects immigrant communities to legal aid, social services, and policy updates.
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Website: icirr.orgWikipedia+8ICIRR+8ICIRR+8
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La Voz Immigration Resource Guide
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Description: A bilingual guide designed to assist migrants with information on work, health, education, housing, and legal rights.
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Access: Available online and through a WhatsApp channel for easy dissemination. El País
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Please let me know if you or your friends need assistance connecting with these organizations or require more specific information. I’m here to help.
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Here’s the roller tiller
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As of my latest information, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted several investigations into suspected election fraud, especially in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
Here is a summary of notable details:
Active Investigations: The DOJ has scrutinized a number of election fraud allegations, especially those made after elections. In many instances, such claims remained investigable due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Convictions: Several people have been convicted of electoral offences. However, in most instances, these were marginal offenses, not due to systemic fraud.
Disinformation Focus: The Department of Justice has also dealt with misinformation surrounding election fraud and its elections, which is eroding the faith of many of the electorate in the elections.
Bipartisan Supervision: Numerous state and federal authorities are still conducting investigations and overseeing the election to ensure legality and transparency.
For the most precise and timely details, I recommend checking official announcements from the DOJ or accessing them through trusted news outlets.
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