Licensing Laws to Protect the Consumer
As a consume
r you want to know you are protected. In the mortgage industry you are protected more than you may realize.
The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) was enacted on July 30, 2008, and mandates a nationwide licensing and registration system for residential mortgage loan originators (MLOs). Before this date MLOs were not required to have any training or Continuing Education. The SAFE Act prohibits individuals from engaging in the business of a residential mortgage loan originator without first obtaining and maintaining annually:
- For individuals who are employees of covered financial institution, registration as a registered mortgage loan originator and a unique identifier (federal registration), or
- For all other individuals, a state license and registration as a state-licensed mortgage loan originator, and a unique identifier (state licensing/registration).
The SAFE Act requires that federal registration and state licensing and registration be accomplished through the same online registration system, the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (Registry). The objectives of the SAFE Act include aggregating and improving the flow of information to and between regulators; providing increased accountability and tracking of MLOs; enhancing consumer protections; supporting anti-fraud measures; and providing consumers with easily accessible information at no charge regarding the employment history of and publicly adjudicated disciplinary and enforcement actions against MLOs
The SAFE Act requires state-licensed MLOs to pass a written qualified test, to complete pre-licensure education courses, and to take annual continuing education courses. The SAFE Act also requires all MLOs to submit fingerprints to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) for submission to the FBI for a criminal background check; and state-licensed MLOs to provide authorization for NMLS to obtain an independent credit report.
Written by: Rachel Clevenger, Compliance Coordinator at Royal United Mortgage LLC
Published: 09/08/2016