A Career as a Mortgage Loan Officer: Understanding the Challenges, Rewards, and Opportunities
In real estate, a mortgage is an important part and step of completing the home-buying process. Without a mortgage, it would be pretty difficult for most home-owners to buy their dream home.
Many people think of a mortgage as a financial loan, but it is more than that.
A mortgage is like a medium through which a homeowner or property buyer can bridge the gap between their dreams and reality. After all, paying for a home or commercial real estate out of their own pockets is possible only for a handful of buyers.
The mortgage industry is vast and has many specific functions and job roles.
However, a mortgage loan officer is at the center of every translation that involves financing for real estate.
The role of the mortgage officer is to be a bridge between clients requiring loans and financial institutions and lending companies.
Hence, an important question here is whether being a mortgage loan officer is a good career or not.
But before that, it is necessary to understand what it takes to get a mortgage loan originator license.
The first pre-condition is that all aspiring MLOs must go through mortgage loan originator license courses and pass the licensing exam. You can also enroll for an MLO course online instead of attending regular classroom lessons.
The advantage of online courses is that you can study on the go at your own pace and convenience. All that you need is an Internet-enabled device to stay connected with your instructors from anywhere and at any time.
The fact is - a mortgage loan officer can earn an average annual salary of around $70K or higher. For experienced professionals, the annual salary can go as high as $85K!
On top of that, a career in mortgage lending will give you a comfortable and thriving job along with a steady demand for your services.
If you are interested in starting your real estate career with a job as a mortgage loan officer, then this article will help you get started.
In this guide, we have put together everything you need to know about starting a career in the mortgage loan industry.
From education and job opportunities to career progression and long-term job satisfaction, by the end of this guide, you will know it all.
Is it Hard to Be A Mortgage Loan Officer?
If you are an aspiring mortgage loan officer in the real estate industry, then you are bound to have many doubts and curiosities in your mind.
One of them is whether a mortgage loan officer is a good career and what can be expected from it in terms of earnings and opportunities.
Firstly, like every career, becoming successful is all about preparation, knowledge, and experience. This means that if you wish to build a thriving career as a mortgage loan officer, it is certainly possible with dedication and determination.
However, becoming a good, experienced, and trusted mortgage loan officer is a journey that will require you to be patient, skilful, and smart.
A career in real estate comes with its own set of challenges - fluctuating demands, high competition, and economic headwinds are some of them.
However, as mortgage loan officers work with banks and lending institutions, the job offers a high potential for steady earnings along with a steady demand across the country.
This means that you can certainly feel confident about pursuing the path to becoming a loan officer and completing the required steps on your journey.
Overcoming Obstacles as a Mortgage Loan Officer
Does a career in mortgage loan and real estate finance pique your interest? If the answer is yes, then working as a mortgage loan officer can be a good career path.
When you are starting, it is usual to have your share of queries and doubts. Many aspiring mortgage officers often ask a common question - is being a mortgage loan officer hard?
The answer is yes, because after all, real estate is a competitive field and you will be competing with many aspiring professionals from your state and country.
Now before you get discouraged or disheartened, here is what you should keep in mind - hard challenges can be easily overcome with preparation.
On your path to becoming a licensed mortgage loan officer in the United States, you are bound to face some common challenges. However, with practice, patience, and perseverance, you can easily overcome those obstacles.
First and foremost, you must obtain a state-approved real estate license to work as a mortgage loan officer. This is often the most crucial yet challenging obstacle one must overcome to build a career.
The next obstacle you could face in your career journey is building a comfortable and strong hold on financial knowledge and auditing processes.
This is critical as you will be working with clients and lending institutions to prepare analysis, reports, and verifying documents for mortgage loan approval.
In addition to completing your education and fulfilling the pre-licensing requirements, one can also expect to face a few minor obstacles. Some of these include –an uncertain economy, weak job outlook, financial instability in the lending sector, and so forth.
Is Mortgage Loan Officer a Good Career?
The Benefits and Rewards of a Career as A Mortgage Loan Officer
Do you like numbers and analysis and have a desire to help people on their journey to buy their dream home? If the answer is a yes then a career in real estate might just be your calling.
Working as a mortgage loan officer is a rewarding and enriching career path, especially for those who do not wish to be a real estate agent and broker.
If you are someone who wants to grab the real estate rush without signing up for a traditional, conventional career path, then you can opt for a mortgage loan officer job.
Before starting, it is common to face a crucial question - is a mortgage loan officer a good career choice for you?
If you think of it, since the dawn of time, lending and credit have been major pillars of a capitalist society. In real estate terms, since the day people have been selling and buying properties, financial institutions have been lending money.
A mortgage loan officer is a stable and steady career path for anyone good with numbers, has an analytical mind, and is hardworking.
With an estimated total annual income of $110K, there is a lot of earning potential you can tap as a mortgage loan officer.
On top of the salary, a mortgage loan officer takes home additional benefits worth $40k annually. These benefits could include - commissions, bonuses, and profit sharing.
The rewards are not just limited to a high paycheck - you can choose to expand your network by offering consulting services. Additionally, you can also open your own agency or lending company if you have the entrepreneurial spirit.
Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance as a Mortgage Loan Officer
Real estate is filled with opportunities and enriching experiences and you too can earn your share by working as a licensed loan officer in the United States.
If finance is your area of interest or a strong suit, then a career as a mortgage loan officer might just be what you need to enter the dynamic world of real estate.
Did you know that experienced loan officers can earn as much as a whopping $170K in a year? Not to mention the additional opportunities to earn commission and bonuses on top of the salary.
Imagine building a thriving career in the fast-growing real estate industry. You can achieve this dream by working as a mortgage loan officer.
Another advantage of choosing this career path is the good work-life balance you can find. In comparison to the target-driven, sales-oriented job role of an agent or a broker, a mortgage loan officer enjoys a more relaxed, easy job profile.
Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve working with clients and financial institutions such as mortgage companies and banks. You will mostly focus on getting mortgage deals approved for individuals and businesses.
The Roles and Responsibilities of a Mortgage Loan Officer
A mortgage loan officer does more than simply sign paperwork for approving or rejecting loans.
Although that is the key part of the job, there are some additional responsibilities including:
- Implementing strategic plans
- Conducting financial reviews
- Evaluating the borrower’s credit score and history
- Coordinating with underwriters to identify risks
- Ensuring compliance with state and federal authorities for loan agreements
- Updating records of loan transactions and financial documents
- Offering customized lending packages to clients
- Creating partnerships and alliances with local developers, realtors and brokers
Job Market and Demand for Mortgage Loan Officers
Now let us check out how much do mortgage loan officers make in a year.
For an entry-level loan officer, you can expect to earn around $45K annually as a starting salary.
The real estate industry is vast and is filled with numerous roles and job profiles. As most homeowners and property buyers prefer to take a loan for a big-ticket purchase, loan officers are sought-after to ensure borrowers get the required financing and funding they need.
This implies that the demand for loan mortgage officers is continuing to grow, as the real estate market grows.
How to become a licensed Mortgage Loan Officer in the United States?
Education and Training Requirements for Mortgage Loan Officers
The first and foremost step is to complete the education requirements as established by the National Mortgage Licensing Service (NMLS).
Now before we discuss more about the educational criteria, below is a checklist of the basic eligibility requirements you must fulfill first.
- You should be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
- You should have a bachelor's degree in finance or related field
It is important to note that every state has its specific set of education requirements which must be fulfilled before you can register with the NMLS.
The first step is to complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education courses which should include the following topics:
- Federal law and regulations (3 hours)
- Ethics and associated fields (3 hours)
- Lending standards (2 hours)
- Mortgage origination (20 hours)
In addition to the above-listed mandatory courses, your state might require you to complete additional topics as part of your education.
These additional courses could cover topics such as - reverse mortgages, auditing, and so forth.
Steps to obtain a license as a mortgage loan officer
After you have completed the pre-licensing education, the next step is to take the licensing exam.
Also known as the SAFE MLO test, you must score at least 75% or above to successfully clear the exam.
Once you have cleared the MLO exam, your next step will be to find sponsorship and learn by working with an established business.
Lastly, you will need to get your unique NMLS identifier which is a unique identifier that every loan officer holds.