MLO Exam Dumps - NMLS SAFE MLO Questions and Answers

A Qualified Mortgage (QM) is a category of loans that has certain, more stable features that help make it more likely that a borrower will be able to afford their loan. QMs cannot have negative amortization, interest-only payments, or balloon payments (with a few rural lender exceptions). They must provide for regular, substantially equal periodic payments of principal and interest.

“A qualified mortgage provides for regular periodic payments that are substantially equal, does not result in negative amortization, does not allow for interest-only payments, and does not generally include balloon payments.”

— 12 CFR § 1026.43(e), Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule; CFPB

For FHA loans, when a borrower’s commission income is 25% or more of total income, the lender must obtain copies of the borrower’s signed federal income tax returns for the previous two years and must also document current commission income.

“Commission income must be averaged over the previous two years. Borrowers whose commission income represents 25 percent or more of their total annual employment income must provide signed tax returns for the previous two years.”

— HUD 4000.1 FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook

The statement "Current interest rates as low as 3.50% with an APR of 3.99%. Contact us today!" is permissible under TILA and Regulation Z, provided it accurately reflects the current rates and corresponding Annual Percentage Rate (APR).

Regulation Z requires that if an advertisement states an interest rate, it must also disclose the APR to ensure consumers understand the true cost of the loan, including fees and other finance charges.

The other statements are prohibited due to potential misrepresentation:

B (affiliation with the VA) could be misleading unless it is an actual endorsement, which is rare.

C (no payments with a reverse mortgage) could mislead consumers about the conditions of a reverse mortgage.

D (guaranteed refinancing) could be misleading as future refinancing depends on market conditions and the borrower's qualifications.

If a mortgage loan includes a prepayment penalty, it must be disclosed on both the Loan Estimate (LE) and the Closing Disclosure (CD). These disclosures, mandated under the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, ensure that borrowers are aware of any penalties they may face for paying off the loan early. The prepayment penalty must be clearly stated to comply with TILA (Truth in Lending Act) requirements.

The Loan Estimate provides an early overview of loan terms, and the Closing Disclosure finalizes those terms.

With an interest-only mortgage, the borrower makes payments that cover only the interest for a set period (such as 5 or 10 years). After this period, the borrower begins paying both principal and interest, which causes payments to increase.

“An interest-only mortgage is a loan with scheduled payments that for a period of time require payment of interest only, with no reduction of the principal balance.”

— CFPB, Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages; SAFE MLO National Test Study Guide

Under RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act), it is illegal to charge a fee for a settlement service if no services or only nominal services are performed. This is true regardless of who pays the fee, whether it’s the borrower, seller, real estate agent, or any other party. RESPA prohibits unearned fees, kickbacks, or payments for referrals in federally related mortgage transactions.

Even if someone other than the borrower pays, the charge is still illegal if it is not justified by actual services performed.

The USA PATRIOT Act was enacted in 2001 to help deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, and to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools. It requires financial institutions to establish anti-money laundering programs and procedures to help prevent terrorist financing.

“The purpose of the USA PATRIOT Act is to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and to address money laundering and terrorist financing.”

— USA PATRIOT Act, Public Law 107-56

The purpose of an appraisal in mortgage underwriting is to determine the current market value of the property being used as collateral for the loan. This is to ensure the loan amount does not exceed the value of the property and to protect the lender’s interest in case of default.

“An appraisal provides an opinion of the property’s market value, which is essential for the lender to determine if the property adequately secures the loan.”

— Fannie Mae Selling Guide, B4-1.1-03: Appraisal Report Forms and Exhibits

Lenders are permitted to accept the employment information provided by the borrower on the initial loan application without asking for a letter of explanation when the borrower has a stable employment history, such as being employed by the same company for three years or more. This provides sufficient documentation of employment stability, reducing the need for further explanation.

Other options (A, B, C) involve situations where the employment status or job stability may raise concerns, thus requiring additional documentation or explanation.