What is Mortgage Banking?

Mortgage banking is meant for a single purpose, to service the real estate finance industry. Mortgage banking deals specifically with originating mortgage loans as well as servicing them. Mortgage banks are state-licensed entities from which consumers can get mortgage loans directly. Usually, mortgage banks avail funds from the Federal National Mortgage Association, or FNMA, also known as Fannie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or FHLMC, also known as Freddie Mac, or any other large companies that service mortgages, which are related to the secondary mortgage market.

Here are a few pointers about the nitty-gritty of mortgage banking:

Mortgage Banks Specialize in Mortgage Loans: Unlike a savings bank that is federally chartered, in general mortgage banks specialize in only providing mortgage loans. Hence, customers do not deposit their money in these banks. As has been mentioned above, the secondary wholesale market is their primary source of funds. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are examples of the lenders in the secondary market.

Mortgage Banks Differ in Size: While some mortgage banks can be nationwide, others can originate a volume of loan that can exceed that of a commercial bank that is nationwide. Many of these mortgage banks utilize specialty servicers like Real Time Resolutions to carry out tasks like fraud detection work and repurchase.

Mortgage Banks have Two Sources of Revenue: The two main sources of income are from loan servicing fees (if they are into loan sevicing0, and fees from loan origination. Mortgage bankers, by and large, are choosing not to service the loans they have originated. That is because they are entitled to earn a service-released premium by selling them soon after the mortgage loans are closed and funded. The investor in the secondary market that purchases the loan has the ability of earning revenue for providing servicing of the loan every month the borrower keeps the loan.

Different Banking Laws Apply to Mortgage Banks: Mortgage banks usually operate under banking laws that are quite different, according to the state they operate in. You will need to check each individual state’s financial department or state banking in order to get list of mortgage bankers in each state. While federal laws apply to the operation of a federal bank, in terms of consumer protection, usually consumers have additional rights, which are applicable according to each state.

Mortgage Bankers can be More Competitive: Since they only specialize in lending and do not have to subsidize any of the losses that other departments may have incurred, as in regular banking, mortgage bankers have the ability of being really competitive when lending for mortgage. However, they usually do not have the advantage of accessing adjustable rate mortgages that are low cost, which federal banks are typically associated with, and federal money access.

A Career in Mortgage Banking: Professionals in mortgage banking in the job market today need to have a college degree in business or finance, or some specific experience or training related to the field. Skills in good customer service, an inherent ability with numbers, and computer skills are also essential requirements for mortgage banking jobs. A mortgage banking professional’s job involves reviewing credit scores, determining the kind of loan that is most beneficial for the customer and guiding them through the process of application as well as closing. The loan officer has to be very organized and detail oriented, and need to be able to handle the large amounts of paperwork and reporting that are required for getting loans approved, up to the closing. A mortgage banking professional also has to have thorough know-how about the regulations associated with federal mortgage as well as the various types of mortgages that a consumer can apply for.