Become a Mortgage Loan Officer as a Real Estate Agent
The Real Estate Model Is Outdated
The traditional real estate model is failing agents across America. While you work tirelessly to serve your clients and build your business, the numbers tell a harsh reality. The system is broken, and it's time for a fundamental change.
These numbers don't reflect your potential. They reflect the limitations of an outdated industry structure that forces you to hand off your client at the most critical moment. When financing falls through, you lose the deal, the commission, and often the relationship. The traditional model doesn't work anymore. It's time for a better path.
Why Agents Choose This Path
Earn on Both Sides
Stop splitting the deal. When you control both the real estate transaction and the mortgage origination, you capture the full value of your client relationship. Your expertise drives both commissions, and your income reflects the complete service you provide.
Faster Pre-Approvals
Time kills deals. Our dedicated operations team processes pre-approvals quickly and efficiently, giving your buyers a competitive edge. You’re not waiting on outside lenders anymore. You control the timeline and keep transactions moving forward
Keep Your Brand
This isn’t about leaving your brokerage or abandoning relationships you’ve built. You maintain your real estate license, your brand identity, and your brokerage connections. You’re simply adding a powerful new capability to your existing business
Weekly Coaching
You’re never alone in this transition. Receive weekly coaching sessions, a clear onboarding plan, and ongoing support from professionals who understand both the real estate and mortgage industries. We help you succeed at every step.
Ready to add mortgage to your business? Keep your brokerage and start originating with supervised sponsorship and a backend team that speeds up loans.
Ready to Add Mortgage Origination to Your Business?
Keep your Real Estate Brokerage and start originating loans with high-quality back-end support that gets fast approvals and seamless closings.
How It Works
Becoming a dual-licensed agent is more straightforward than you might think. We've streamlined the process into four clear steps, each supported by our team and systems. From initial training through your first closed loan, you'll have guidance and backend support at every stage.
Training and Exam
Follow a proven study plan designed specifically for the NMLS test. Our materials cover all required topics in a clear, digestible format. Learn at your own pace, then schedule your exam when you're ready. Most agents complete this phase in 2 weeks.
Sponsorship and Onboarding
Once licensed, you're sponsored by Direct Rate, LLC. Your license is properly supervised under our compliance program. You receive complete systems access, comprehensive compliance training, and all the tools you need to originate loans professionally and legally.
Backend Support
Here's where our model shines. Our experienced team handles all the heavy lifting: disclosures, document preparation, processing coordination, and underwriting communication. You stay focused on what you do best, serving your client and closing the deal.
Serve End to End
Guide your buyer through the complete journey, from initial pre-approval all the way to clear to close. You remain the single point of contact for both the real estate transaction and the mortgage process. No handoffs, no confusion, just seamless service.
Get Licensed in 2 weeks
Clear steps, real timelines, and a simple cost plan. We provide study guidance, a state checklist, and compliance coaching.
Request More InformationSponsorship and Compliance
Understanding sponsorship is critical to your success as a mortgage loan originator. This isn't just a formality. It's the legal framework that allows you to originate loans while maintaining the highest standards of consumer protection.
What Sponsorship Means
A licensed mortgage company supervises your MLO license under their compliance program. You originate through the sponsor's systems, following their established procedures. This protects you, your clients, and ensures every loan meets federal and state requirements.
Your Sponsor: Direct Rate, LLC
NMLS: 2320473
Licensed and active in TX, CA, FL, CO, NM, MT, AZ. Verify status in NMLS Consumer Access at any time.
Sponsor Provides
- Complete supervision of your MLO license
- Access to compliant systems and disclosure documents
- Regular file reviews and quality control
- Full processing and underwriting support
- Ongoing compliance training and regulatory updates
- Internal audits to protect you and your clients
Your Responsibilities
- Follow all federal, state, and sponsor compliance rules
- Use only approved systems and disclosure documents
- Maintain complete and accurate records
- Submit documentation on time and completely
- Participate in required training and audits
- Report any compliance concerns immediately
State Eligibility
Regulations change, and we're continuously evaluating new markets. We've confirmed the following states support this business model under current regulations:
If your state is not listed, don't assume it's not possible. Contact us directly and we'll confirm current options for your location.
He Knew the System Was Broken, So He Built a Better One
Ponch Bafidis didn't set out to build a program. He set out to solve a problem. After decades in the mortgage industry, he witnessed firsthand how disjointed and frustrating the real estate process had become.
So he built LEVEL: a system where agents can lead both sides of the deal and provide a truly modern experience.
"I built LEVEL to solve the disconnect I saw every day, between what agents could do, and what the industry allowed them to do."
Ponch Bafidis
Founder, NMLS 258562
Ready to add mortgage to your business?
Start as an MLO without leaving your brokerage
Join the ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. You maintain your real estate license and your brokerage relationship. You originate mortgages through the sponsor, Direct Rate, LLC, while following their compliance rules. Your real estate business continues exactly as before, just with an added capability.
Many agents complete training and pass the NMLS exam in 2 weeks. The actual timeline depends on your study schedule, how quickly you complete the pre-licensing course, and your state's processing time for the license application.
Expect to budget for several items: the pre-licensing course (typically $200 to $500), the NMLS exam fee (around $110), background checks and fingerprinting (approximately $100 to $200), and state licensing fees (varies by state, usually $100 to $400).
Your MLO license is sponsored and supervised by Direct Rate, LLC (NMLS 2320473). They provide compliance oversight, systems access, and all necessary supervision required by federal and state regulations.
A dedicated operations team supports all pre-approval requests and prepares files for underwriting. You submit the client information through our systems, and the team handles documentation, verification, and coordination.
Have More Questions? Request More Information
Request More InformationReady to Transform Your Real Estate Business?
Complete the application below. A team member will contact you within one business day with your personalized next steps and state-specific guidance.
Application includes:
- Contact and licensing information
- Current brokerage and transaction volume
- Preferred contact time
- Consent for program communication
Compliance Note: Direct Rate, LLC " NMLS 2320473 " Active states: TX, CA, FL, CO, NM, MT, AZ. All mortgage lending activities are conducted under proper sponsorship and regulatory supervision. Verify licensing in NMLS Consumer Access.
