(a) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, in order to operate a S.A.F.E.-compliant program, a state must prohibit an individual from engaging in the business of a loan originator with respect to any dwelling or residential real estate in the state, unless the individual first:
(1) Registers as a loan originator through and obtains a unique identifier from the NMLSR, and
(2) Obtains and maintains a valid loan originator license from the state.
(b) An individual engages in the business of a loan originator if the individual, in a commercial context and habitually or repeatedly:
(1)
(i) Takes a residential mortgage loan application; and
(ii) Offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan for compensation or gain; or
(2) Represents to the public, through advertising or other means of communicating or providing information (including the use of business cards, stationery, brochures, signs, rate lists, or other promotional items), that such individual can or will perform the activities described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(c)
(1) An individual “takes a residential mortgage loan application” if the individual receives a residential mortgage loan application for the purpose of facilitating a decision whether to extend an offer of residential mortgage loan terms to a borrower or prospective borrower (or to accept the terms offered by a borrower or prospective borrower in response to a solicitation), whether the application is received directly or indirectly from the borrower or prospective borrower.
(2) An individual “offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan for compensation or gain” if the individual:
(i)
(A) Presents for consideration by a borrower or prospective borrower particular residential mortgage loan terms;
(B) Communicates directly or indirectly with a borrower, or prospective borrower for the purpose of reaching a mutual understanding about prospective residential mortgage loan terms; or
(C) Recommends, refers, or steers a borrower or prospective borrower to a particular lender or set of residential mortgage loan terms, in accordance with a duty to or incentive from any person other than the borrower or prospective borrower; and
(ii) Receives or expects to receive payment of money or anything of value in connection with the activities described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section or as a result of any residential mortgage loan terms entered into as a result of such activities.
(d)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a state must prohibit an individual who is an independent contractor from engaging in residential mortgage loan origination activities as a loan processor or underwriter with respect to any dwelling or residential real estate in the state, unless the individual first:
(i) Registers as a loan originator through and obtains a unique identifier from the NMLSR, and
(ii) Obtains and maintains a valid loan originator license from the state.
(2) An individual “engage[s] in residential mortgage loan origination activities as a loan processor or underwriter” if, with respect to a residential mortgage loan application, the individual performs clerical or support duties.
(e) A state is not required to impose the prohibitions required under paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section on the following individuals:
(1) An individual who performs only real estate brokerage activities and is licensed or registered in accordance with applicable state law, unless the individual is compensated directly or indirectly by a lender, mortgage broker, or other loan originator or by an agent of such lender, mortgage broker, or other loan originator;
(2) An individual who is involved only in extensions of credit relating to timeshare plans, as that term is defined in 11 U.S.C. 101(53D);
(3) An individual who performs only clerical or support duties and:
(i) Who does so at the direction of and subject to the supervision and instruction of an individual who:
(A) Is licensed and registered in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, or
(B) Is not required to be licensed in accordance with paragraph (e)(5); or
(ii) Who performs such duties solely with respect to transactions for which the individual who acts as a loan originator is not required to be licensed, in accordance with paragraph (e)(2), (6), or (7) of this section;
(4) An individual who performs only purely administrative or clerical tasks on behalf of a loan originator;
(5) An individual who is lawfully registered with, and maintains a unique identifier through, the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, and who is an employee of a covered financial institution, as that term is defined in 12 CFR part 1007.
(6)
(i) An individual who is an employee of a Federal, state, or local government agency or housing finance agency and who acts as a loan originator only pursuant to his or her official duties as an employee of the Federal, state, or local government agency or housing finance agency.
(ii) For purposes of this paragraph (e)(6), the term employee has the meaning provided in paragraph (1) of the definition of employee in §1008.23 and excludes the meaning provided in paragraph (2) of the definition.
(iii) For purposes of this paragraph (e)(6), the term housing finance agency means any authority:
(A) That is chartered by a state to help meet the affordable housing needs of the residents of the state;
(B) That is supervised directly or indirectly by the state government;
(C) That is subject to audit and review by the state in which it operates; and
(D) Whose activities make it eligible to be a member of the National Council of State Housing Agencies.
(7)
(i) An employee of a bona fide nonprofit organization who acts as a loan originator only with respect to his or her work duties to the bona fide nonprofit organization, and who acts as a loan originator only with respect to residential mortgage loans with terms that are favorable to the borrower.
(ii) For an organization to be considered a bona fide nonprofit organization under this paragraph, a state supervisory authority that opts not to require licensing of the employee must determine, under criteria and pursuant to processes established by the state, that the organization:
(A) Has the status of a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(B) Promotes affordable housing or provides homeownership education, or similar services;
(C) Conducts its activities in a manner that serves public or charitable purposes, rather than commercial purposes;
(D) Receives funding and revenue and charges fees in a manner that does not incentivize it or its employees to act other than in the best interests of its clients;
(E) Compensates its employees in a manner that does not incentivize employees to act other than in the best interests of its clients;
(F) Provides or identifies for the borrower residential mortgage loans with terms favorable to the borrower and comparable to mortgage loans and housing assistance provided under government housing assistance programs; and
(G) Meets other standards that the state determines are appropriate.
(iii) A state must periodically examine the books and activities of an organization it determines is a bona fide nonprofit organization and revoke its status as a bona fide nonprofit organization if it does not continue to meet the criteria under paragraph (e)(7)(ii) of this section;
(iv) For residential mortgage loans to have terms that are favorable to the borrower, a state must determine that the terms are consistent with loan origination in a public or charitable context, rather than a commercial context.
(f) A state must require an individual licensed in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (d) of this section to renew the loan originator license no less often than annually.