Mortgage Loan Originator Mortgage Loan Originator MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 'yield spread premium' (YSP) historically referred to:
- A bonus paid by the government for below-market rate loans
- Compensation paid by a lender to a broker for delivering a loan at an above-par interest rate (Correct answer)
- A fee the borrower pays for locking a rate
- A penalty for early loan prepayment
Correct answer: Compensation paid by a lender to a broker for delivering a loan at an above-par interest rate
A yield spread premium was compensation a lender paid to a mortgage broker when the broker originated a loan at an interest rate higher than the par rate.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT one of the three C's of credit underwriting?
- Capacity
- Collateral
- Credit
- Convenience (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Convenience
The three C's of mortgage underwriting are Capacity (ability to repay), Credit (credit history), and Collateral (property value)—Convenience is not one of them.
Question 3: A 'no-cost' mortgage loan typically means:
- The borrower pays no money at closing under any circumstances
- Closing costs are rolled into the loan balance or covered by a higher interest rate (Correct answer)
- The government subsidizes all origination fees
- No points or interest are charged for the life of the loan
Correct answer: Closing costs are rolled into the loan balance or covered by a higher interest rate
In a no-cost mortgage, closing costs are either financed into the loan amount or offset by a higher interest rate that generates lender credits.
Question 4: Under the SAFE Act, an individual who takes a residential mortgage loan application and offers or negotiates terms is considered a:
- Real estate agent
- Mortgage loan originator (Correct answer)
- Loan processor
- Underwriter
Correct answer: Mortgage loan originator
The SAFE Act defines a mortgage loan originator as any individual who takes a residential mortgage loan application or offers or negotiates terms of such a loan.
Question 5: Which type of income is typically considered the most stable and easiest to verify for mortgage qualification purposes?
- Self-employment income
- Commission-based income
- W-2 salaried income (Correct answer)
- Rental income
Correct answer: W-2 salaried income
W-2 salaried income is considered the most stable and straightforward to document, as it is consistent and verifiable through pay stubs and tax returns.
Question 6: A 'teaser rate' on an adjustable-rate mortgage refers to:
- A penalty rate charged after the first missed payment
- An artificially low initial interest rate that adjusts upward after a set period (Correct answer)
- A fixed rate that never changes over the life of the loan
- A rate offered exclusively to first-time homebuyers
Correct answer: An artificially low initial interest rate that adjusts upward after a set period
A teaser rate is a below-market introductory interest rate on an ARM that resets to a higher rate after the initial fixed period ends.
Question 7: When a mortgage loan is 'sold on the secondary market,' it means the lender has:
- Foreclosed on the property and resold it
- Transferred the loan to another investor such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (Correct answer)
- Reduced the interest rate for the borrower
- Converted the loan from adjustable to fixed rate
Correct answer: Transferred the loan to another investor such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
Selling a loan on the secondary market means the originating lender transfers ownership of the loan to investors like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or private investors.
A 'yield spread premium' (YSP) historically referred to: