Professional development

As banks look to cuts costs and improve efficiency, many are actively trying to reduce the number of times they "touch" a loan file. The goal: get the application right the first time so it doesn't have to be sent back to the underwriter for time-consuming and costly fixes.

Paying attention to detail is important in the mortgage industry but being a control freak could damage your productivity.

Having a specialty or a niche helps to keep your business away from being at the mercy of interest rate shoppers.

The ongoing push for more robust loan data will continue in 2015, as market participants across the mortgage lifecycle adopt new regulatory requirements and take advantage of recent developments in paperless processing and self-service capabilities.

Here are some easy ways to introduce your loan origination group to your clients.

Aaron Seltzer, an attorney from the eastern shore of Maryland, pled guilty earlier this week to wire fraud connected to a real estate investment scheme.

Appraisers are often the only party involved in a real estate transaction that has no "skin in the game," unlike mortgage originators and real estate agents.

Georgia's Department of Banking and Finance has finalized a cease-and-desist order against Community Legal Center.

Mortgage companies must properly vet their third-party vendors to ensure that there is no litigation, fraud allegations, or other risky behavior that might create risk for them.

To be a successful mortgage loan originator, you have to be able to function in any kind of real estate market.

Lenders concerned about maintaining vendor oversight compliance may require title insurance and settlement firms to adopt the American Land Title Association's quality standards, even though the industry guidelines are only voluntary.

Creating a business strategy for 2015 detailing the steps and changes you must take to be successful.

The State Regulatory Registry, which runs the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, says that mortgage loan originator and company renewals for 2015 are off to a strong start.

Zillow Inc. was accused of "sexual torture" by one of its former sales consultants in a harassment lawsuit that may add to scrutiny of how women are treated in the technology industry.

A company's evolution from startup to established business requires executives to have a wide array of leadership skills, particularly given the intricate compliance requirements that can complicate the growth trajectory of many mortgage firms.

Lenders who make or buy non-qualified mortgages are learning how to get more of a handle on the risks, in part by ensuring they don't stray too far away from QM boundaries.

An automated consumer training technology aims to mitigate compliance risk in loans outside qualified mortgage standards for liability protection.

Becoming a continuing education instructor for real estate agents is a way to develop new referral sources and get more business.

In loan officers' efforts to show they can meet the needs of one set of millennials, they shouldn't forget about the other buyers that can be helped.

With an eye on eliminating mortgage buybacks and adhering to increasing regulatory compliance obligations, mortgage lenders are redoubling their sales training efforts for both rookie and veteran loan officers.