Since compensation methods for mortgage brokers are not regulated by any government entity, it is important to note that brokers can charge whatever they want to for their services. Of course, since the number of brokers in the residential real estate market has steadily increased to the point where it is impossible to count how many there are, a number of industry standards have formed and become unofficial guidelines for how and what brokers will charge.

Who Pays The Brokers? Mortgage brokers get paid from multiple sources, and the most notable and substantial are the borrower and the lender. Since the broker's responsibility is to act as liaison and intermediary between the lender and the borrower, he is entitled to payment for such services. The borrower will pay the broker for assisting with completion and submission of the loan application paperwork, negotiating the best possible rates and contract provisions with the lenders, and acting as an independent resource for any and all questions or concerns. The lender will also pay the broker for assisting the borrower with paperwork, fielding all questions and concerns, and for negotiating with the borrower.

The borrower will pay the broker with cash for the loan application paperwork, and then points for other services rendered, an amount which will be satisfied at settlement and added to closing costs. The lender will pay the broker in the form of a flat commission for bringing new clients to that organization, plus something called a Yield Spread Premium, which is the difference between the lender's required interest rate and the one the broker convinced the borrower to accept.

Points Paid to Broker A point is equal to 1% of the total loan amount, and different brokers will charge different amounts of points, usually based on the complexity of your loan. It is very important to note that these points charged by brokers for their services are different from points paid directly to the lender in exchange for a lower interest rate (called Discount Points).

It is not difficult to see how working with mortgage brokers can present some significant expenses and additional concerns about the cost and quality of a loan. Brokers currently account for the largest majority of residential mortgage applications, and present buyers with an option that is very attractive, provided of course that the broker and his agency are reputable and experienced.