Mortgage Broker Job Description Example
We are seeking a vibrant, motivated, organized and experienced mortgage broker to join our brokerage firm. The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma, maintain a current license and demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of mortgage origination and closing. They will have at least three years of experience in the field and show good sales and networking techniques.
Primary responsibilities include:
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Acting as the intermediary between potential lenders and borrowers
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Analyzing and comparing multiple loans for recommendation to the client
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Collecting and assembling required verifications to prepare for closing
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Ensuring strict compliance with all state and federal regulations
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Acting as the primary contact for borrowers questions and clarifications
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Submitting relevant documents on time
How Much Does A Mortgage Broker Cost
A mortgage broker may be compensated through a combination of fees paid from borrowers and commissions that are paid out by the lending institutions who want them to originate loans. The costs vary greatly but a mortgage broker generally earns between 1% and 3% of the total loan amount. The total amount paid by the borrower will vary based on the type of loan, what broker is used, and how much the broker is earning in commissions from the lending institution.
A mortgage brokers pay could show up on your closing costs sheet in a variety of ways. They may charge loan origination fees, upfront fees, loan administration fees, a yield-spread premium, or just a broker commission. When working with a mortgage broker, you should clarify what their fee structure is early on in the process so there are no surprises on closing day.
What Makes Mortgage Brokers Different From Loan Officers
Loan officers are employees of one lender who are paid set salaries . Loan officers can write only the types of loans their employer chooses to offer.
Mortgage brokers, who can work within a mortgage brokerage firm or independently, deal with many lenders to find loans for their clients. Mortgage brokers may be able to give borrowers access to a broad selection of loan types.
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Why Do Mortgage Brokers Charge Fees
Donât be put off by the idea of paying fees â mortgage brokers are providing a valuable service and needtobe paid in exchange for finding a great deal for you.
How they charge you depends on either the mortgage youâve chosen or its value. You should be told upfronthow much youâll be charged, and if your broker will be paid any commission. Be wary of brokers who canâttell you their fees, or who claim they canât give you an exact figure until a deal is completed.
In recent years, no-fee brokers have started to emerge â these brokers wonât charge you for theirservicesas theyâll earn a commission from the lender whoâs providing the mortgage.
A Broker May Not Source The Best Deal For You
Many home buyers simply assume that a broker can deliver a better deal than they could get on their own, but this is not always the case. Some lenders may offer home buyers the very same terms and rates that they offer mortgage brokers .
It never hurts to shop around on your own to see if your broker is really offering you a great deal. As mentioned earlier, using a mortgage calculator is an easy way to fact check whether you can find better options.
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How Are Mortgage Brokers Different From Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents and mortgage brokers share similar characteristics. They are both licensed real estate professionals that assist homebuyers. However, a real estate agents primary task is to help homebuyers and sellers find or sell property. In contrast, a mortgage brokers main task is to help buyers find and secure financing to purchase property.
Consider Which Type Of Broker To Use
While most mortgage brokers work with customers in person or over the phone, there’s now a growing number of ‘robo mortgage advisers’ – web-based services which allow you to carry out some or all of the mortgage application process online.
There are pros and cons to this approach. Our guide to online mortgage brokers explores how some of the best-known companies work.
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How A Mortgage Broker Works
Perhaps you want to buy a house and you donât have an existing banking relationship or arenât satisfied with the rate offered by your current mortgage lender. You can call a mortgage broker who works with multiple lenders to help borrowers identify the best loans and rates from a broad range of loan programs.
Using a mortgage broker can also save you a tremendous amount of time. Rather than contacting several lenders individually and poring over complicated loan offers, you simply work with a broker who determines how much loan youâre likely to qualify for and handles all of the legwork for you.
Brokers then help the homebuyer compile the necessary documentation and shepherd them through the application and underwriting process. Upon closing, the mortgage broker earns a borrower fee or lender commission of between 0.50% and 2.75% of the total loan amountâdepending on the brokerâs fee structure and whether theyâre being paid by the mortgage lender or borrower.
Cons Of Using A Mortgage Broker
Katat, a past commenter on this article, said this about their experience:
âNot really âconsâ in using a brokerâ¦Comparing the rates, brokers have always found a better discounted rate for my mortgages. If a main bank is chosen from the best options the broker offers, you can also get access to special offers the bank offers .â
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How Do Mortgage Brokers Get Better Rates
Brokers dont all offer the same financing. Those that do a lot of business, like brokers sourcing over $150 million in mortgages annually, typically get better deals from lenders due to the volume of clients they bring in. Exclusive lender promotions are often made solely to larger brokers. This is one reason why some brokers offer lower rates than others.
Thats why we try to provide the most comprehensive mortgage rate comparison in Canada. By juxtaposing offers from various brokers, banks, credit unions and other lenderswithout biasyoure more likely to see the best available deal.
This post has been updated.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using A Mortgage Broker
Pros:
Cons:
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You May Owe A Broker Fee
Mortgage brokers are paid either by the lender or by you. If the fee is covered by the lender, you need to be concerned about whether you’ll be steered to a more expensive loan because the commission to the broker is more lucrative. If you pay the fee, figure it into the mortgage costs before deciding how good a deal you are getting. And be sure to settle all fee issues upfront before you start working with a broker or sign anything.
Spend some time contacting lenders directly to obtain an understanding of which mortgages may be available to you.
What You Need To Know About Working With A Mortgage Broker
When youre looking for loan options, a mortgage broker can help you access a wide variety of programs.
Edited byChris JenningsUpdated January 4, 2022
Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. By refinancing your mortgage, total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as “Credible.”
Shopping around for a mortgage can be a daunting task. After all, you want the best rate and a loan that fits your situation. One way to find the best home loan for you is to work with a mortgage broker.
Working with a broker for your mortgage can make a big difference in the programs you have access to. With a mortgage broker, you can get help every step of the way, and you arent limited to the offerings of one lender.
Heres what you need to know about using a mortgage broker:
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Types Of Mortgage Broker
Tied or multi-tied
Tied mortgage brokers offer products from a single lender, while multi-tied brokers offer products from a small panel of lenders. Many tied brokers are linked to estate agents and will refer the agencyâs customers to one of a handful of lenders in exchange for a commission. Mortgage specialists in banks and building societies can also be considered to be âtiedâ brokers, insofar as they may only offer products sold by that lender.
Whole of market
The Financial Conduct Authority requires that a mortgage broker describes its range accurately to consumers, and stipulates that one of the following disclosures be used to describe the service offered :
- “We are not limited in the range of mortgages we will consider for you.”
- “We offer a comprehensive range of mortgages from across the market, but not deals that you can only obtain by going direct to a lender.”
- “We only offer mortgages from lender. We can provide you with a list of these.”
- “We only offer mortgages from .”
- “We only offer some, but not all, of the mortgages from lender. We can provide you with a list of these.”
- “We only offer some, but not all, of the mortgages from .”
- “We only sell bridging finance products from . We do not offer products from across the mortgage market.”
How mortgage brokers make money
Some brokers employ a sliding fee scale in order to account for the fact that some applications are more difficult to place â and therefore require more work â than others .
Costs Associated With Mortgage Brokers
Mortgage brokers earn money in two ways. They either get paid a commission by lenders, or the borrower pays the broker . Often, they are paid by lenders. The broker fee is a percentage of your loan amount, which is usually 1% to 2%.
Before hiring a broker, ask them directly about their compensation structure. When you pay the broker, you can give the fee as a lump sum amount upon closing. The fee can also be rolled into the amount of your loan. And when the lender pays, the brokers commission is generally incorporated into the cost of the loan. Note, however, that while lenders typically pay broker commissions, they may carry over that cost to you, the borrower, with higher fees or interest rates. But by federal law, brokers are prohibited from charging fees that exceed 3%.
When you pay the broker. Since the fee takes a small percentage of your loan, note that a larger loan amount will result in a higher fee. For instance, if you took at $500,000 mortgage and your broker charges a 2% flat fee, youll end up paying $10,000. This is a hefty sum, which many borrowers might not agree to. In this regard, its best to negotiate the brokers fee to lower your costs. This is also why its important to ask them upfront about their fee structure and how much they might charge.
Mortgage Brokers are Mandated to Offer Good Service
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How Do I Know If I Get A Good Mortgage Broker
When it comes to getting a mortgage, you have a lot of choices to make. A good broker will not only get you the mortgage thats right for you, but will also take the time to explain a lot of the fine print and confusing language thats part of a mortgage.
Its also wise to remember that the mortgage broker is paid by the lender and will have built up relationships with lenders over time. Therefore, its also a good idea to ensure your mortgage broker compares mortgages from the number of lenders you expect.
If you are concerned that a broker is not bringing you a fair range of rates, you will need to do your homework and be aware of current rates yourself, or at least, find another broker who does. If youre not aware of the average range of rates available on the market today, a quick search of the best rates at RATESDOTCA can provide you with the peace of mind that your broker is doing his or her job.
This post has been updated.
What Contract Do I Have To Sign With A Mortgage Broker
A mortgage broker is there merely to show you a mortgage option for your consideration. Just like a clerk at a store can show you a product off the shelf. You do not have a sign a contact with me. Just like you do not have to sign a contract a the clerk at the store.You are signing the lenders mortgage commitment and will then be a client of that lender. The mortgage would be subject to the terms and conditions of that lenders mortgage commitment.
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Advantages Of Mortgage Broker
- Evaluate Buyer and Seller Needs: They evaluate the needs of both the borrower and the lender and accordingly introduce them so that the chances of deal finalization are one hundred percent confirmed.
- Evaluate Borrowing Power: They do the legwork of evaluating the borrowing power of the borrower by accessing their details of credit rating, assets owned, yearly income, etc.
- Compare Between Options: A mortgage broker help in making a comparison between all the available mortgage options and can guide the borrower in choosing the best option among all.
- Offer Expert Advice: They offer expert advice since they research the properties.
Should You Use A Broker
Working with a mortgage broker has almost no downside, because you arenât obligated to move forward with your mortgage application until after you find out what mortgage rate you can secure and from which lender. In the best-case scenario, youâll save thousands of dollars in interest on your mortgage. The worst-case scenario is that you receive free, unbiased advice that is personalized for your financial situation.
The other thing to remember is that mortgage brokers arenât a zero sum game. Thereâs nothing stopping you from speaking to a mortgage broker and one or more mortgage providers. Because every mortgage broker has relationships with different mortgage providers, it can sometimes be worth speaking to multiple mortgage brokers as well. The more offers you get, the more choice you have.
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Should I Use A Mortgage Broker
If you don’t have time to sink into the mortgage application process, or if you’re in a hurry to secure a home loan, hiring a broker is a wise choice. Just be aware of the potential drawbacks involved. Don’t just pick a random broker. Ask for recommendations from friends, family members, colleagues, or neighbors.
Even with lots of endorsements, be sure to ask a lot of questions before agreeing to work with a mortgage broker. Find out how that broker gets paid and get a sense of his or her experience.
A favorable mortgage rate can save your bank account long-term. A mortgage broker could be your ticket to a lower interest rate — so if you don’t have the time or patience to apply for mortgages yourself, or want someone in your corner who knows how to negotiate rates, talk to a mortgage broker.
Better For Your Credit Score
A broker can make it possible for you to apply for several mortgages within a short time frame — a smart move from a credit-score standpoint.
Here’s why: Each time a lender pulls your credit history to determine whether you’re a viable loan candidate, that counts as a hard inquiry on your credit score, which can bring that number down a little. A single hard inquiry won’t do much damage, but multiple hard inquiries could hurt your credit score a lot more. If you apply for multiple mortgages within a short period — generally 30 to 45 days — all of those hard inquiries count as a single inquiry, thereby preserving your credit score. Without the help of a broker, you might struggle to get all your applications in quickly enough to avoid the hit.
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