For a consumer knowing how to do a mortgage search online to confirm your potential mortgage broker has a valid license in your state is paramount. Protecting yourself from unscrupulous mortgage companies starts with determining if said company holds the proper license to originate mortgages.

Since the mortgage meltdown government officials have upped the ante on mortgage licensing. Prior to this each state was responsible for setting their own licensing standards without a national minimum standard.

Today, there is a minimum national mortgage licensing standard in terms of company net worth, loan officer education, and other reporting requirements the Federal governments wants the states to employ.

The S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act was pasted by Congress to “enhance consumer protection and reduce fraud by encouraging states to establish minimum standards for the licensing and registration of state-licensed mortgage loan originators” according to HUD’s website.

As part of this new law, a national registry was created as a clearing house of licensing information so regulators and consumers could see how is and is NOT up-to-date with their mortgage licensing.

Consumers can do a mortgage license search on this registry to determine if a mortgage loan officer or mortgage company they are considering doing business with has the proper license in their state.

The site is located at http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ and it’s called the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry or NMLS.

How To Do A Mortgage License Search on NMLS

This is pretty easy. The instructions are to type in the name of the loan officer or the name of the company. I start with the name of the company, get through the verification screen, and once I get access, I click the “filter” for Company Name leaving the “All States” drop down intact.

I then get a list of all the companies with similar names to the one I’m search on…I find the specific company I need and click on it.

Once I pull up the company, I look at the bottom half of the page where all of the state licensing information is held. Right here in the middle column you’ll see a header marked “Authorized to Conduct Business” for all the states the company reports to do business in. If the companies licensing has lapsed, you’ll see a “NO” in that column for those states were they are no longer licensed.

If I want to see detailed inform on their license in a specific state, cursor to the far right column and click the “View Details” and you’ll see a new screen with all the specific information on that company’s licensing status for that state.

This is so simple and easy check on the legitimacy of any mortgage company and should never be eliminated as part of a good mortgage shopping strategy.

Ok, so now you know the company is licensed. But what if they have be sanctioned by the state in the past.

Wouldn’t you like to know if this company even though they have a license now may have had issues either with consumer complaints or licensing issues in the past before the SAFE Act was enacted/

For that you’ll have to contact your local state regulator. Usually that is the banking or financial regulator for your state, but I’ve made finding them easy with a list below for every state.

State Mortgage Regulators

Mr. Scott Corscadden
Supervisor, Bureau of Loans
Alabama State Banking Department
AL - Alabama
Telephone: 334-242-3452
Fax: 334-353-5961
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.banking.alabama.gov

Ms. Patrice Walsh
Chief Examiner
State of Alaska Department Commerce, Community & Economic Development
AK - Alaska
Telephone: 907-269-5496
Fax: 907-269-8146
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/bsc/home.htm

Mr. Lauren W. Kingry
Superintendent
Arizona Department of FInancial Institutions
AZ - Arizona
Telephone: 602-771-2800
Fax: 602-381-1225
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.azdfi.gov

Kay Durham
Examiner Supervisor
Arkansas Securities Department
AR - Arkansas
Telephone: 501-324-8696
Fax: 501-324-9268
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.securities.arkansas.gov

Ms. Louisa A. Broudy
Deputy Commissioner
California Department of Corporations
CA - California (Dept. of Corporations)
Telephone: 213-576-7609
Fax: 213-576-7178
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.corp.ca.gov

Mr. Jeff Davi
Real Estate Commissioner
State of California Department of Real Estate
CA - California (Dept. of Real Estate)
Telephone: 916-227-0782
Fax: 916-227-0777
Email: [email protected]
Website:

Mr. Cary P. Whitaker
Mortgage Loan Originator Program Manager
Department of Regulatory Agencies
CO - Colorado (Dept. of Regulatory Agencies)
Telephone: 303-894-2424
Fax: 303-894-2683
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm

Ms. Mary Geesling
Supervising Credit Examiner
State of Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code
CO - Colorado (Uniform Consumer Credit Code)
Telephone: 303-866-4494
Fax: 303-866-5474
Email: [email protected]
Website:

Ms. Marlene M. Mannix
Director, Consumer Credit Division
Connecticut Department of Banking
CT - Connecticut
Telephone: 860-240-8203
Fax: 860-622-4970
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ct.gov/dob

E. Quinn Miller
Investigative Supervisor
Office of the State Bank Commissioner
DE - Delaware
Telephone: 302-739-4235
Fax: 302-739-2356
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: http://www.banking.delaware.gov

Ms. Edna Boateng
Financial Institutions Examination Officer
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
DC - District of Columbia
Telephone: 202-442-7845
Fax: 202-354-1093
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.disb.dc.gov

Mr. Andy Grosmaire
Bureau Chief
Florida Office of Financial Regulation
FL - Florida
Telephone: 850-410-9848
Fax: 850-410-9914
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.fldfs.com

Terry Straub
Division Director - Finance
Florida Office of Financial Regulation
FL - Florida
Telephone: 850-410-9544
Fax: 850-410-9914
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.flofr.com

Mr. Rod Carnes
Deputy Commissioner, Non-Depository Financial Institutions Div.
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
GA - Georgia
Telephone: 770-986-1371
Fax: 770-986-1029
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.state.ga.us/dbf/

Mr. Mike Larsen
Consumer Finance Bureau Chief
Idaho Department of Finance
ID - Idaho
Telephone: 208-332-8060
Fax: 208-332-8096
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://finance.idaho.gov/

Mr. Alan Anderson
Senior Counsel of Mortgage Banking Regulation
Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation, Div of Banking
IL - Illinois
Telephone: 312-793-3000
Fax: 312-793-1490
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.idfpr.com

Mark B. Tarpey
Division Supervisor - Consumer Credit
Department of Financial Institutions
IN - Indiana
Telephone: 317-232-3955
Fax: 317-232-7655
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.in.gov/dfi/

Mr. Chris Naylor
Securities Commissioner
Secretary of State, Securities Division
IN - Indiana (Sec. of State, Securities Div.)
Telephone: 317-232-6681
Fax: 317-232-6587
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.in.gov/sos/securities/

Mr. Rodney E. Reed
Finance Bureau Chief
Iowa Division of Banking
IA - Iowa
Telephone: 515-281-4014
Fax: 515-281-4862
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.idob.state.ia.us

Mr. Kevin Glendening
Deputy Commissioner
Kansas Office of State Bank Commissioner
KS - Kansas
Telephone: 785-296-2266
Fax: 785-296-0168
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.osbckansas.org

Ms. Nicole Biddle
Director, Div. of Non-Depository Institutions
Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
KY - Kentucky
Telephone: 502-573-3390
Fax: 502-573-8787
Email:
Website: http://www.kfi.ky.gov

Mr. Darin Domingue
Deputy Chief Examiner
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
LA - Louisiana
Telephone: 225-922-2596
Fax: 225-925-4524
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ofi.louisiana.gov/

Ms. Julie Stolt
Examiner-in-Charge
Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
ME - Maine
Telephone: 207-624-8527
Fax: 207-582-7699
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.credit.maine.gov

Ms. Janet C. Erickson
Examinations Supervisor
Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation

Telephone: 410-230-6078
Fax: 410-685-6542
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/

Mr. Steve Cofsky
Chief Director
Massachusetts Division of Banks and Loan Agencies
MA - Massachusetts
Telephone: 617-956-1543
Fax: 617-956-1598
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mass.gov/dob/

Mr. Kirt L. Gundry
Director
Mortgage Examination & Investigation Section
MI - Michigan
Telephone: 517-373-0237
Fax: 517-241-4820
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.michigan.gov/ofir

Mr. Mark Weigold
Director - Mortgage Licensing Section
Office of Financial and Insurance Services
MI - Michigan
Telephone: 517-335-2073
Fax: 517-335-1501
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cis.state.mi.us/ofis/

Mr. Paul Hanson
Chief Examiner
Minnesota Department of Commerce
MN - Minnesota
Telephone: 651-297-5281
Fax: 651-296-4328
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.commerce.state.mn.us

Mr. Dan Mitchell
Director, Mortgage Examinations
Minnesota Department of Commerce
MN - Minnesota
Telephone: 651-296-0856
Fax: 651-296-8591
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.commerce.state.mn.us

Ms. Theresa Brady
Deputy Commissioner
Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance
MS - Mississippi
Telephone: 601-359-1031
Fax: 601-359-3557
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dbcf.state.ms.us

Mr. Rich Weaver
Commissioner
Missouri Division of Finance
MO - Missouri
Telephone: 573-751-3242
Fax: 573-751-9192
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.missouri-finance.org

Commissioner Annie M. Goodwin
Commissioner
Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions
MT - Montana
Telephone: (406)841-2920
Fax: (406)841-2930
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.banking.mt.gov

Ms. Amy Greenwood-Field
Review Examiner
Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance
NE - Nebraska
Telephone: 402-471-2171
Fax: 402-471-3062
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ndbf.ne.gov

Mr. Joseph L. Waltuch
Commissioner
Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending
NV - Nevada
Telephone: 702-486-0789
Fax: 702-486-0785
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://mld.nv.gov

Ms. Mary Jurta
Director, Consumer Credit Division
New Hampshire Banking Department
NH - New Hampshire
Telephone: 603-271-3561
Fax: 603-271-0750
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.state.nh.us/banking/

Ms. Susan M. Toth
Administrator, Licensing Services Bureau
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
NJ - New Jersey
Telephone: 609-292-7272 x50243
Fax: 609-633-0822
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.njdobi.org

Mr. Henry A. Vigil
Industry Manager
New Mexico Financial Institutions Division
NM - New Mexico
Telephone: 505-476-4566
Fax: 505-476-4670
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/fid

Ms. Rholda Ricketts
Deputy Superintendent of Banks
New York State Banking Department
NY - New York
Telephone: 212-709-5540
Fax: 212-709-5555
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.banking.state.ny.us

Mr. Charlie J. Fields, Jr.
Director, Non-Depository Entities Division
North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks
NC - North Carolina
Telephone: 919-733-4680
Fax: 919-733-2978
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nccob.org

Mr. Bob Entringer
Assistant Commissioner
North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
ND - North Dakota
Telephone: 701-328-9933
Fax: 701-328-0290
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nd.gov/dfi

Leigh Willis
Deputy Superintendent
Ohio Division of Financial Institutions
OH - Ohio
Telephone: 614-728-8400
Fax: 614-222-3672
Email:
Website: http://www.com.state.oh.us/ODOC/dfi/

Mr. Scott Lesher
Administrator
Department of Consumer Credit
OK - Oklahoma
Telephone: 405-521-3653
Fax: 405-521-6740
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.okdocc.state.ok.us

Mr. David Tatman
Administrator
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
OR - Oregon
Telephone: 503-947-7475
Fax: 503-947-7862
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dfcs.oregon.gov

Mr. James Keiser
Administrator - Non-Depository
PA Department of Banking
PA - Pennsylvania
Telephone: 717-783-8242
Fax: 717-787-8773
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.banking.state.pa.us

Mrs. Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston
Administrator
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs
SC - South Carolina
Telephone: 803-734-4198
Fax: 803-734-4231
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scconsumer.gov

Mr. C. Dean Bratton
Commissioner
SC Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Fin. Div.
SC - South Carolina (Board of Fin Inst)
Telephone: 803-734-2020
Fax: 803-734-2025
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bofi.sc.gov

Ms. Jean Blow
Policy/Data Analyst
South Dakota Division of Banking
SD - South Dakota
Telephone: 605-773-3422
Fax: 866-326-7504
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.state.sd.us/banking

Mr. Mike Igney
Assistant Commissioner / Compliance Division
Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
TN - Tennessee
Telephone: 615-741-2236
Fax: 615-532-1018
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.state.tn.us/financialinst/

Ms. Leslie L. Pettijohn
Consumer Credit Commissioner
Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
TX - Texas (Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner)
Telephone: 512-936-7640
Fax: 512-936-7610
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.occc.state.tx.us

Mr. Doug Foster
Commissioner
Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending
TX - Texas (Dept. of Savings & Mortgage)
Telephone: 512-475-1353
Fax: 512-475-1505
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sml.state.tx.us

Ms. Mark Sabey
Director
Utah Division of Real Estate
UT - Utah
Telephone: 801-530-6744
Fax: 801-526-4387
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.realestate.utah.gov

Ms. Sue Clark
Regulatory and Consumer Affairs Director
Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration
VT - Vermont
Telephone: 802-828-4878
Fax: 802-828-1477
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.bishca.state.vt.us

Ms. Susan E. Hancock
Deputy Commissioner
Virginia State Corporation Commission
VA - Virginia
Telephone: 804-371-9701
Fax: 804-371-9416
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/bfi/index.aspx

Ms. Deborah Bortner
Director of Consumer Services
Washington Department of Financial Institutions
WA - Washington
Telephone: 360-902-0511
Fax: 360-704-7030
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dfi.wa.gov

Ms. Tracy Hudson
Director of Nondepository Institutions
West Virginia Division of Banking
WV - West Virginia
Telephone: 304-558-2294
Fax: 304-558-0442
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.wvdob.org

Mr. Michael J. Mach
Administrator
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
WI - Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-261-7578
Fax: 608-267-6889
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.wdfi.org

Ms. Jean Plale
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
WI - Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-266-0447
Fax: 608-267-6889
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.wdfi.org

Mr. Joe Mulberry
Assistant Commissioner
Wyoming Division of Banking
WY - Wyoming
Telephone: 307-777-7797
Fax: 307-777-3555
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://audit.state.wy.us/banking/

So be sure to do a mortgage search for current licensing and contact your local state mortgage regulator to determine if any past behavior was egregious enough to warrant sanctions.

Good Luck!

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