A mortgage loan officer is an essential financial professional that is the vital bridge between the finance companies and their customers. His/Her work is of significant responsibility and affects the dreams of countless people who come to banks and other financial institutions to avail varied property loans.
If one wants to become a loan officer, it is necessary to go through every related information that is necessary to be the one. It is not a one-day affair but about a complete expedition that demands complete dedication. Wrong or careless attitude is not for the loan officers. You need to understand this before you start the struggle.
First, know the definition
Before you proceed, know about what precisely a loan officer is?
The Mortgage Loan officer is a representative of a bank or a finance company that supports the customers in the application process. He takes care of the complete procedure and also if the information in the form is correct or not. He takes care of the documentation part and tells the customers about the type of details and paper required.
Now the process that wins you the tag of loan officer –
The points below are very basic but significant to guide to you in the right direction. Have a look –
Complete the 4 year degree in certain fields after high school
After you complete high school, your education is more focussed and communicates your plans for the future. While hiring a loan officer, the mortgage companies always want you to have a college degree in particular fields.
- Economics and Finance
These are the two main streams that are necessary to become a loan officer. You need a degree in any of these two fields. Scoring good marks should be your priority, as at the time of the interview, the employers want you to be perfect in every sense.
Attain the necessary skills for value addition
While you do your degree or maybe after you complete it, try to learn the necessary skills of a mortgage loan officer. The preparation of today gives good results for tomorrow. There are many things that you can learn through regular or weekly courses.
Before you join any class, know about what a loan officer needs to do.
- You should be able to respond to the questions of the customers. Know about what type of doubts the mortgage borrowers have and how to solve them. Keep the focus on the application process. Get yourself familiar with all the basic terms and conditions of the mortgage lenders.
- Learn the terminology of the mortgage industry. While working with a lender, you will need to stay in contact with many other people. For example, borrowers, mortgage life insurance company, online mortgage broker, solicitor etc. The conversation that takes place between all of you depends on the use of professional terms like arrangement fee, loan to value, etc. If you are not aware of the basic terminology, you cannot work efficiently.
- Take a course of public speaking to improve communication skills. You need to be good at what you speak when you are a mortgage loan officer. Sometimes you may need to convince a person about the utility of the mortgage product that your company is selling.
This step is crucial and prepares you for the coming tomorrow. You may not have professional experience, but the weight of professional information and skill is also not less. To be an expert in your industry, practical expertise is a necessary condition.
Once the degree is over, it is time to get some experience
Congratulations!! You are now ready to get into the mortgage industry. The world of money has opened its doors for you. The journey is undoubtedly as long as it is just the start of your career. But for sure, it is exciting for you.
While you work, try to attain specialisation. For example, work in a particular field of mortgages such as remortgage or first-time mortgage. However, forget not that you also need to have an overall knowledge of everything.
Apply to the companies that give the chance to the newcomers. For a loan officer, it is necessary to have at least 5 years of experience as then only banks consider them for the job. By that time, you can also start working in related fields like sales or customer service.
Many finance companies give a fair chance to young minds. Shine Mortgages, the online broker offers the opportunity for young professionals. Similarly, there are many other lenders too that open their windows for the new and progressive talent.
Apply for the position of the loan officer
Once your struggle period of 5 years is over, you need to apply for the exact position of a loan officer. This may require some time, but with the right amount of patience and talent, you can win a good job. Keep an eye on every latest job posting. The most promising places to find the job postings are – credit unions, banks and lending institutions.
Another option to start your career is to work as an independent loan officer. He is also known as the loan originator. It is the self-employed version of the loan officer. However, this is a difficult decision. You need to create your contact with the industry people. You have to be smart in creating your circle.
When you work with a mortgage company, your pace to get familiar with the industry and the people is fast. Due to a large customer base of the company, you do not need to struggle on that part. On the other hand, while working as a self-reliant loan officer, you need to work as a one-man army. From making contact with the critical people to getting into the notice of the industry, everything is on your shoulders.
Conclusion
The above steps may not look ‘many’ in number, but they all are time consuming. In 6 to 7 years, you will become a wholly accepted loan officer in the industry. Stay on the right track of hard work and do not stop learning new things. Stay updated about the latest changes in the rules and policies of the lending industry. From the base rate to the housing tax, everything should be in your knowledge.
