Direct answer
What does mortgage loan originator mean?
A mortgage loan originator (MLO) is an individual who, for pay or expected gain, takes residential mortgage applications or offers or negotiates residential mortgage terms.
Exam cue: New York uses Department of Financial Services licensing and the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System for covered MLO activity.
What does it look like in a question?
Example
An employee discusses loan terms and takes a residential application for an originating entity.
Common exam trap
What should you not confuse it with?
An MLO license is not a real estate salesperson license.
Related mortgage brokerage terms
Sources used3 references with section locators
The curriculum citation confirms exam scope. Definition and rule citations support the explanation itself.
- Real Estate Salesperson 77-Hour CurriculumNew York State Department of StateSupports: Exam scopeSection: Subject 18, Mortgage Brokerage
- New York Banking Law section 590New York State SenateSupports: New York ruleSection: Definitions, registration and permitted activities in section 590
- New York Banking Law section 599-bNew York State SenateSupports: New York ruleSection: Mortgage loan originator definitions and licensing
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Put the term back into its full subject.
A definition helps with recall. The subject guide shows how the rule interacts with documents, scenarios, calculations and practice questions.