the top 10 things you need to know about becoming a mortgage agent

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Joe White – The Top 10 things you need to know

About REMIC What is the Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada Inc.

Mission Statement The Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada Inc. provides exceptional, ethics based training approved by FSCO to meet the educational requirements for new agent licensing as well as courses designed to enhance the careers of current mortgage brokers.

Helping brokers gain more market share is our primary goal...

Value Statement The Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada Inc. will continue to develop and deliver inspired, innovative training built on a foundation of consumer protection and ethics designed to advance our industry and cultivate the skills of our learners.

The Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada (REMIC) is a member driven online community of brokers dedicated to increasing their overall performance by investing in their personal development. We offer a free, no risk membership to showcase our products, services and incredible amount of resources designed to help you achieve your goals. Find out today why our members are among the top producing Brokers in the industry by joining, risk free. Simply click on the link below and in just a few minutes you'll have access to REMIC, Canada's premiere community of Brokers

About the REMIC Mortgage Agent Course

The course designer, Joseph J. White, has taught thousands of students wishing to become licensed as a mortgage agent in Ontario over the past 15 years, and is the leader in both online and in class course development, having designed courses for Ontario colleges and mortgage trade associations.

Quite simply, RMAC is designed for success. Our online course boasts a combination of video tutorials, online forums and quizzes designed to assist the student in understanding the material, which is key to his or her success. Based on FSCO’s required learning objectives, or Mortgage Agent Qualifying Standards (MAQS), RMAC provides students all of the tools they need to complete the course online or in class; in Toronto or Mississauga. Not just a course for licensing, but a course for brokering.

See what some of our students have to say about RMAC - click the testimonials button below!

http://www.remic.ca/testimonials

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About the Author Joe White has been involved in the mortgage industry over the past 21 years. He has held several

positions, including that of mortgage agent when he first entered the industry, sales manager with two

national mortgage brokerages, National Sales Manager and VP of Sales with two national mortgage

lenders as well as partner at a successful mortgage brokerage. Joe has developed the current Ontario

mortgage agent and previous mortgage broker programs that are delivered through over 20 colleges, and

for over 12 years was part-time program coordinator of the mortgage broker program at Seneca College.

He has instructed over eight thousand students and in 2003 won the Excellence Award for teaching and

leadership excellence. His current textbooks are used in the Ontario Mortgage Agent and previously in

the Mortgage Broker licensing courses. Currently the Principal Broker of a national mortgage

brokerage/lender and a staunch supporter of the brokerage industry, Joe founded the Real Estate and

Mortgage Institute of Canada Inc. (REMIC) in 2008.

https://twitter.com/wwwREMICca

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Contents

#1 – You must pass the course for licensing ....................................................................................... 5

#2 – Choose your brokerage ............................................................................................................... 6

#3 – Commission splits and contracts vary ......................................................................................... 7

#4 – Become a student: learn from colleagues and take courses ....................................................... 8

#5 – Treat it like it’s your own business .............................................................................................. 9

#6 – Network .................................................................................................................................... 10

#7 – Get social ................................................................................................................................... 11

#8 – Always do what’s in the best interests of your client ................................................................ 12

#9 – Know the rules; follow the rules! .............................................................................................. 13

#10 – Make the move! ...................................................................................................................... 14

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#1 – You must pass the course for licensing

It’s the law! Anyone who wishes to broker mortgages in Ontario must pass the course for licensing. The REMIC Mortgage Agent Course (RMAC) is

approved by the regulator, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) In addition, REMIC is approved by Human Resources and

Skills Development (HRSDC) as an accredited educational institution. That means REMIC provides you with a T2202A so you can deduct your tuition from your taxes (your personal savings will be based on your tax bracket) With over 2,000 students per year taking REMIC’s course (more than any other provider in the industry) we’re confident that you’ll have a great experience.

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#2 – Choose your brokerage

Choosing your brokerage is an important step. With over one thousand brokerages in the province there is plenty of choice.

In the REMIC course we provide a list of 38 questions to ask a brokerage that are vital to helping you make the

right decision. These questions range from commission splits to support, contracts and others that you might not have thought to ask,

but definitely should ask! Your brokerage will be an important partner in your success, arming you with the tools that you need to be successful, but ultimately it’s up to you

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#3 – Commission splits and contracts vary

You can earn a six figure income (that’s over $100,000!) per year, but how you get there will vary based on what you earn for each mortgage you arrange. The standard in the industry is to pay new mortgage agents less, while experienced agents (those who can prove that they can produce results) more. This is typically because the brokerage will invest more in your training when you’re new, and less when you’re experienced. You’ll likely have a lot to learn from your brokerage early in your career, and that knowledge may be worth a lower commission

split at the beginning. Just be sure to ask what you get for that lower commission split – and then go get some business! Most brokerages will require you to sign a contract, and some will have a non-compete clause. In other words, if you leave you agree not to compete with that brokerage. It’s important to read the contract before signing it, and ask questions when you’re unsure!

Commission splits: better than banana splits!

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#4 – Become a student: learn from colleagues and teachers

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel! That simply means that you should use what works and not try to recreate it. So, find an experienced mortgage agent who is successful and learn from her or him as much as you can. There’s nothing like experience, except learning from experience! REMIC provides fantastic courses to improve your skills and knowledge, and help you generate more business. Most who fail in this industry do so because they can’t generate enough business. It’s extremely important to start working on this as soon as you’re licensed (you can’t do this before you’re licensed because you

need a license to talk to people about brokering their mortgage).

The REMIC course is taught by industry experienced experts. This is a great place to start to learn from

experience, so take advantage of your instructor’s knowledge, especially in the online course!

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#5 – Treat it like it’s your own business

Because it is your own business!

Once you’re hired by a brokerage, you will have the incredible opportunity to earn unlimited income. For those willing to work hard, and smart, the opportunities are endless. It’s important that you understand that although you’ll be classified as an independent contractor, in essence you own your own business! You get to decide the hours that you work, how you generate leads, and what you do with the income. When you take ownership you’ll look at your

role in a new light. You’re the boss, and your only

employee (for now). But being the boss comes with responsibilities, so be sure to think about that every time you make a decision. If you need to, take a course on running your own business. There are many courses on owning your own business and succeeding as an entrepreneur.

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#6 – Network

Once you’re licensed it’s time to get your name out. Where? Everywhere! To do this quickly and inexpensively you’ll need to network. As soon as you have your business cards give them out to everyone! The more people who know who you are

and what you do, the more business you’ll have. The more business you have, the more money you’ll make! Give yourself a goal to hand out 20 or more business cards each and every week. Add to that another phenomenal business building goal: collect 20 or more business cards each and every week. By incorporating these techniques into your daily activities you’ll automatically become a networking superstar. And that’s exactly what you need to do to succeed!

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#7 – Get social

Like networking, it’s about ensuring that everyone you socialize with knows that you’re now a mortgage agent. Use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others to promote yourself. Be sure to share information that your friends will find useful, such as differences between mortgage products, information for first time buyers, rental property owners, and so on. You’ll have access to so much valuable information that you’ll be able to post something new every week! Make sure your friends and family know of your new career and be there to assist when they need it. Blogging is yet another incredible way to reach out to friends and find people who may not know you, but who will be happy to learn from you. Be sure to keep your social media networking in perspective, though. Commit an hour a day to it, and stick to that limit. It’s easy to lose track of time, and for you time is money!

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#8 – Always do what’s in the best interests of your client

In a typical transaction you have two clients; the borrower and the lender. As a licensed mortgage agent it is your role to find the right lender for your borrower. It’s also your

role to ensure that the borrower is right for the lender. This means knowing the needs and circumstances of your borrower, and understanding the lending guidelines of your lender. The path to a prosperous career begins with the belief that you are here to serve your clients. When you serve the best interests of your clients everyone wins; the borrower gets a product that suits their needs while the lender gets a

client that meets its guidelines. Of course, you win as well. You’ll have a client who will hopefully refer other clients to you. You’ll gain the respect of the lender. And last but not least, you’ll earn your well-deserved commission.

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#9 – Know the rules; follow the rules!

Mortgage brokering is a regulated activity and you must be licensed to broker mortgages in Ontario. In the REMIC course you’ll learn about the rules and the legislation that you have to follow. These rules and regulations are in place to protect consumers from those who might take advantage of them. By knowing and following the rules and regulations of the mortgage brokering industry you will become a valued member of the industry and ensure that your clients are treated fairly and responsibly at all times. Your brokerage is there to help as well! Part of your brokerage’s job is to ensure that

you know the rules and that you have the tools to follow them, like ensuring that you have access to compliant advertising and marketing as well as the proper disclosure documents. By knowing and following the rules and regulations of the industry you’ll help the mortgage brokerage industry maintain its strong dedication to serving its clients and protecting all consumers.

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#10 – Make the move!

The old saying tells us that “there’s no time like the present.” Once you’ve satisfied yourself that you’re interested in mortgage brokering as a career, it’s time to act. The fact is there are very few industries where you can take a course for a few hundred dollars and have the potential to earn a six figure income, but this is one of those industries.

Once you’ve passed the course and you’re ready to begin, REMIC is here to help you with free job placement assistance. Making the decision is just the first step. Your next step is to act. If you have any questions about the industry,

mortgage brokering as a career or you’re ready to take the course for licensing, we’re here to help. You can reach us by phone, email, live chat online or simply drop by our Toronto office to have a free cup of coffee and a chat. All of us at REMIC believes that every consumer should be using a licensed mortgage agent for his or her mortgage. And we’re here to help you start on your own path to becoming an important part of this important industry.

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The FSCO approved REMIC Mortgage Agent Course (RMAC)

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