MLO Exam Dumps - NMLS SAFE MLO Questions and Answers

An easement is a legal right granted to one party to cross or use another party's land for a specific purpose, such as for utility lines, access roads, or water drainage. Easements are commonly granted in property transactions and are recorded in the public records.

Easements are unrelated to mortgage modifications (A) or payment reductions (D).

References:

Real Estate Law on property easements

HUD Guidelines on easements in property transactions

Community second funds are an acceptable source of funds for down payments, closing costs, or financial reserves. These are subordinate loans provided by housing finance agencies, nonprofits, or government entities to help borrowers meet the required down payment or closing costs. These funds are often offered to low-to-moderate income borrowers or first-time homebuyers as part of affordable housing programs.

Virtual currency (A), such as Bitcoin, is not an acceptable source due to its volatility and challenges in verifying its stability.

Personal unsecured loans (C) are generally not allowed, as they increase the borrower’s debt and reduce their financial stability.

Foreign assets outside of the U.S. (D) are not typically acceptable unless they can be easily liquidated and transferred to the U.S.

References:

Fannie Mae Selling Guide on acceptable sources of funds

Freddie Mac Guidelines for down payment and closing costs

A purchase money second mortgage allows a borrower to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) by using a second loan to cover part of the down payment. This structure, often referred to as a "piggyback loan", is commonly used when a borrower does not have a 20% down payment but wants to avoid PMI, which is typically required for loans with less than 20% down.

The borrower makes payments on both the primary mortgage and the second mortgage, but by keeping the loan-to-value (LTV) on the first mortgage below 80%, they can avoid PMI.

References:

Fannie Mae Selling Guide on purchase money mortgages

Freddie Mac Guidelines on private mortgage insurance

Under Dodd-Frank Act regulations and Regulation Z (TILA), mortgage loan originators (MLOs) cannot be compensated based on the terms of the loan, such as interest rates, loan amount, or product type. This includes any financial incentives, like bonuses or rewards, tied to loan terms. In this case:

The trip to Hawaii was awarded based on closing loans with an interest rate of 5% or higher, which directly ties the MLO's compensation to a specific loan term (the interest rate).

This violates the Loan Originator Compensation Rule, which prohibits compensating MLOs based on the terms or conditions of a loan, in order to protect borrowers from steering into unfavorable loan products.

Therefore, all forms of compensation—including bonuses, trips, or other rewards—are scrutinized if they are tied to loan terms, making the MLO's trip to Hawaii an illegal incentive under current law.

References:

Dodd-Frank Act - Loan Originator Compensation Rules

TILA/Regulation Z - Anti-Steering and Loan Terms Compensation Rules

For an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM), specific disclosures must be provided to the borrower within three business days of receiving a completed loan application. These disclosures are required under TILA (Truth in Lending Act) and include detailed information about the loan’s terms, how the interest rate can change, and what potential payment increases might occur over time.

The Loan Estimate (LE), which includes ARM-specific information, must be provided within this timeframe to ensure the borrower understands the adjustable nature of the loan before proceeding further in the process.

Other options like at closing or when a loan is locked in are incorrect, as disclosures must be provided much earlier in the process.

References:

Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 12 CFR Part 1026 (Regulation Z)

TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID)

The upfront premium charged on an FHA mortgage is an example of government mortgage insurance. This upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) is required for FHA loans and protects the lender (creditor) in the event of borrower default. FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a government agency.

Private mortgage insurance (D) is used for conventional loans, while optional credit life insurance (A) and force-placed hazard insurance (B) are unrelated to FHA loans.

References:

FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook

HUD Guidelines on UFMIP

To verify a borrower's income for the ability-to-repay (ATR) requirements, lenders must rely on verified documentation, such as:

Electronic paystubs

W-2 forms

Tax returns

An electronic paystub is acceptable as it provides detailed proof of the borrower's income, including salary, deductions, and other compensation.

Items like a check register (B), the income stated on the loan application (C), or a borrower’s attestation (D) without documentation are not considered valid forms of income verification.

References:

Dodd-Frank Act - Ability-to-Repay Rule

CFPB Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage (ATR/QM) Rule

Steering occurs when a loan officer influences or directs a borrower towards a specific loan product or lender based on the compensation the loan officer will receive, rather than the borrower’s best interests. In Option C, the loan officer is steering the borrower to a loan from a particular lender to earn higher compensation, which is prohibited under the Dodd-Frank Act and TILA’s Loan Originator Compensation Rule.

Other options:

Option A describes offering a loan with higher fees, but it does not indicate that compensation is the motive, so it is not a clear example of steering.

Option B and Option D describe fair loan presentation practices.

References:

Dodd-Frank Act, Loan Originator Compensation Rule

Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 12 CFR Part 1026

One of the requirements for obtaining an MLO (Mortgage Loan Originator) license under the SAFE Act is that the MLO must be covered by a net worth requirement, surety bond, or must pay into a state fund. This requirement ensures that MLOs have adequate financial backing to protect consumers and the public in the event of legal or financial disputes.

A (10 hours of pre-licensing education) is incorrect because the requirement is at least 20 hours of pre-licensing education.

B (license revoked) and C (conviction) are not fully accurate as they do not align with the exact licensing rules under the SAFE Act.

References:

SAFE Act, 12 USC §5101

NMLS Licensing Guidelines

Flood insurance coverage is required to cover the lesser of:

The outstanding principal balance of the loan, or

The maximum coverage limit available under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is $250,000 for residential properties.

The purpose of flood insurance is to protect the lender's interest in the property, ensuring that the loan amount is covered in the event of a flood.

The appraised value of the home (A) and the property value on file with the county (D) are irrelevant in determining flood insurance requirements.

References:

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

FEMA Flood Insurance Guidelines