Is a mortgage lender the same as a real estate agent?
No. A mortgage lender is a financial institution that makes direct loans, while a real estate agent represents buyers or sellers in property transactions under a state real estate license. The roles are licensed separately, and an individual who performs only real estate brokerage activities is exempt from loan originator licensing unless compensated by a lender, mortgage broker, or other loan originator.
No. A mortgage lender is an entity licensed under Chapter 494 of the Florida Statutes that makes mortgage loans for compensation or gain, or sells mortgage loans to noninstitutional investors. A real estate agent helps buyers and sellers transact property and is licensed under real estate law, not Chapter 494. The roles can overlap, though: a December 2022 Federal Housing Administration letter confirmed individuals may serve as both a real estate agent and a mortgage originator on FHA-insured home sales.
Sources: Fla. Stat. 494.00312: Loan originator license; Fla. Stat. 494.00313: Loan originator license renewal.