Become a Member

Membership in the Upfront Mortgage Brokers Association is for those mortgage brokers who are willing to operate under the terms of the Upfront Mortgage Broker Commitment.

Because the Upfront Mortgage Broker Commitment sets forth a series of procedures that results in a transparent transaction, membership is not for every mortgage broker.

If you are a mortgage broker who does not want the consumer to know the amount of compensation you are making on the transaction, or if you need “bait and switch tactics” in order to generate business or increase your income, membership in UMBA is not for you.

Conversely, if you think your compensation is fair and commensurate with the services you provide, becoming a UMBA member will allow you to grow your business by separating yourself from other mortgage brokers, especially the unscrupulous operators within the industry. You can Apply for Membership online.

The Upfront Mortgage Broker concept is about creating a “win/win” situation for both the consumer and the mortgage broker.

Consumers receive the benefit of doing business with a mortgage broker who will represent their best interests. Mortgage brokers who are willing to operate under the terms of the Upfront Mortgage Broker Commitment have the ability to expand their business.

For consumers, shopping for a mortgage loan is a very difficult proposition. Many consumers who shop for a loan utilizing the “best interest rate” mentality fall victims to the bait and switch tactics prevalent in the mortgage industry. And honest mortgage brokers lose business to these rogue operators.

With what transpired in the subprime mortgage crisis in the late 2000s, consumers are learning that the typical mortgage broker does not necessarily operate with their best interests in mind. As such, consumers are now seeking out those mortgage brokers who can be a reliable source for quality information who can help guide them through the complex maze of loan options.

But it’s not just consumers who are seeking trustworthy mortgage providers. CPAs, financial planners, real estate agents, and attorneys can feel comfortable when they refer their clients to an Upfront Mortgage Broker because of the UFMB’s commitment to the best interests of their clientele.

As a member of the UMBA, you can become the mortgage provider that both consumers and referral sources can trust.

The primary benefit to becoming a member of the Upfront Mortgage Broker Association is very simple - you will have the ability to expand your business without having to resort to the dishonest tricks common among mortgage brokers.

The Upfront Mortgage Broker concept has become synonymous with transparency and fair dealing. Many national newspapers and magazines have touted the benefits of dealing with an Upfront Mortgage Broker.

As a UMBA member, your name will be included in the UMBA “Search Feature” that is located on the UMBA website. This allows consumers and others seeking a mortgage loan to locate you.

Membership in UMBA is for individual mortgage brokers.

For membership purposes, a mortgage broker is defined as a loan originator who is employed by (i.e. W-2 or Schedule C sole proprietorship) or contracted by (i.e. 1099) an entity (corporation, partnership, LLC, sole proprietorship) that does not fund the loans it originates. Further, the entity must operate in this manner exclusively to be considered a mortgage broker for UMBA membership purposes (i.e. the entity may not sometimes fund the loans it originates).

As it relates to funding of the loan, and provide further clarification, an entity that employs or contracts a Mortgage Broker does not use internal capital or a warehouse agreement to fund its loans.

In order to be a member of UMBA, the individual must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Pay the membership dues, as established by the Board of Directors of UMBA.
2. Post the Upfront Mortgage Broker Commitment on the member website. It is not required that the Commitment be located on the member’s home page, but the Commitment must not be more than “1 click” from home page.
3. Adhere to the terms of the Upfront Mortgage Broker Commitment when dealing with consumers.
4. Obtain and maintain the necessary state license(s) for origination acitivites and by December 31, 2010 have and maintain a unique identifier in the National Mortgage Licensing System.
5. Post the Upfront Mortgage Broker logo on the member website home page.

As it relates to the website requirements, an individual website (and not a company/firm website) must be utilized in those situations where the mortgage broker works for a mortgage brokerage firm and not all the mortgage brokers who work for the firm are members of UMBA. A company/firm website may be utilized if all the mortgage brokers who work for the firm are members of UMBA.

To be a member of the UMBA, annual membership dues are required. The annual dues are established by the UMBA Board of Directors. Membership dues are non-refundable.

The annual membership dues are $475.00