The Florida Senate

494.0038  Mortgage broker disclosures.--

(1)(a)1.  A person may not receive a mortgage brokerage fee except pursuant to a written mortgage brokerage agreement between the mortgage brokerage business and the borrower which is signed and dated by the business and the borrower.

2.  The written mortgage brokerage agreement must describe the services to be provided by the mortgage brokerage business and specify the amount and terms of the mortgage brokerage fee that the mortgage brokerage business is to receive. The written mortgage brokerage agreement must be executed within 3 business days after a mortgage loan application is accepted if the borrower is present when the application is accepted. If the borrower is not present when such an application is accepted, the licensee shall forward the written mortgage brokerage agreement to the borrower within 3 business days after the licensee's acceptance of the application and the licensee bears the burden of proving that the borrower received and approved the written mortgage brokerage agreement.

(b)1.  If the mortgage brokerage business is to receive any payment of any kind from the lender, the maximum total dollar amount of the payment must be disclosed to the borrower in the written mortgage brokerage agreement as described in paragraph (a). The commission may prescribe by rule an acceptable form for disclosure of brokerage fees received from the lender. The mortgage brokerage agreement must state the nature of the relationship with the lender, describe how compensation is paid by the lender, and describe how the mortgage interest rate affects the compensation paid to the mortgage brokerage business.

2.  The exact amount of any payment of any kind by the lender to the mortgage brokerage business must be disclosed in writing to the borrower within 3 business days after the mortgage brokerage business is made aware of the exact amount of the payment from the lender but not less than 3 business days before the execution of the closing or settlement statement. The licensee bears the burden of proving such notification was provided to the borrower.

(c)  The commission may prescribe by rule the form of disclosure of brokerage fees.

(2)  At the time a written mortgage brokerage agreement is executed by the borrower or forwarded to the borrower for execution, or at the time the mortgage brokerage business accepts an application fee, credit report fee, property appraisal fee, or any other third-party fee, but not less than 3 business days before execution of the closing or settlement statement, the mortgage brokerage business shall disclose in writing to any applicant for a mortgage loan the following information:

(a)  That such mortgage brokerage business may not make mortgage loans or commitments. The mortgage brokerage business may make a commitment and may furnish a lock-in of the rate and program on behalf of the lender when the mortgage brokerage business has obtained a written commitment or lock-in for the loan from the lender on behalf of the borrower for the loan. The commitment must be in the same form and substance as issued by the lender.

(b)  That such mortgage brokerage business cannot guarantee acceptance into any particular loan program or promise any specific loan terms or conditions.

(c)  A good faith estimate, signed and dated by the borrower, which discloses the total amount of each of the fees which the borrower may reasonably expect to pay if the loan is closed, including, but not limited to, fees earned by the mortgage brokerage business, lender fees, third-party fees, and official fees, together with the terms and conditions for obtaining a refund of such fees, if any. Any amount collected in excess of the actual cost shall be returned within 60 days after rejection, withdrawal, or closing. The good faith estimate must identify the recipient of all payments charged the borrower and, except for all fees to be received by the mortgage brokerage business, may be disclosed in generic terms, such as, but not limited to, paid to lender, appraiser, officials, title company, or any other third-party service provider. This requirement does not supplant or is not a substitute for the written mortgage brokerage agreement described in subsection (1).

(3)  The disclosures required by this subsection must be furnished in writing at the time an adjustable rate mortgage loan is offered to the borrower and whenever the terms of the adjustable rate mortgage loan offered materially change prior to closing. The broker shall furnish the disclosures relating to adjustable rate mortgages in a format prescribed by ss. 226.18 and 226.19 of Regulation Z of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended; its commentary, as amended; and the federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 1601 et seq., as amended; together with the Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages, as amended; published by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. The licensee bears the burden of proving such disclosures were provided to the borrower.

(4)  If the mortgage brokerage agreement includes a nonrefundable application fee, the following requirements are applicable:

(a)  The amount of the application fee, which must be clearly denominated as such, shall be clearly disclosed.

(b)  The specific services that will be performed in consideration for the application fee shall be disclosed.

(c)  The application fee must be reasonably related to the services to be performed and may not be based upon a percentage of the principal amount of the loan or the amount financed.

(5)  A mortgage brokerage business may not accept any fee in connection with a mortgage loan other than an application fee, credit report fee, property appraisal fee, or other third-party fee prior to obtaining a written commitment from a qualified lender.

(6)  Any third-party fee entrusted to a mortgage brokerage business shall immediately, upon receipt, be placed into a segregated account with a financial institution located in the state the accounts of which are insured by the Federal Government. Such funds shall be held in trust for the payor and shall be kept in the account until disbursement. Such funds may be placed in one account if adequate accounting measures are taken to identify the source of the funds.

(7)  All mortgage brokerage fees shall be paid to a mortgage brokerage business licensee.

(8)  This section does not prohibit a mortgage brokerage business from offering products and services, in addition to those offered in conjunction with the loan origination process, for a fee or commission.

History.--ss. 25, 50, ch. 91-245; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 14, ch. 99-213; s. 41, ch. 2000-154; s. 533, ch. 2003-261; s. 6, ch. 2007-182.