Buying a home or owning a business is a dream many people have. However, sourcing a loan to buy that home, a piece of land, or an office building can be very challenging.
Lenders don’t always want to talk to a small business owner or even a renter looking for a home. A mortgage business serves as a middleman between the borrower and the lender and can often negotiate deals with lenders that the borrower couldn’t do on his or her own.
However, owning and managing a mortgage business is not for everyone. You are expected to have a special affinity for numbers and finance.
It also helps to have at least a basic understanding of the banking industry, and specifically the mortgage industry. You are also expected to be detail oriented and good with numbers.
You also should have a passion for helping people. The mortgage business is highly commoditized. The most successful brokerages are those that build relationships with their clientele.
You have to be licensed in your state to do business. Coupled with these basic requirements, you also have to complete related coursework in finance and be able to review lending and financial documents and conduct research.
Have it in mind that you will also have to attend pre-licensure education. The 2008 SAFE Act requires all mortgage brokers to be licensed.
Note that all licenses issued throughout the United States are maintained by the National Mortgage Licensure System (NMLS). NMLS also provides brokers guidance on getting licensed in your state. Licensure involves 20 hours of pre-licensure programming and you must pass an exam to practice in your state.
Your target market in the mortgage business will include businesses looking for commercial property, individuals and families looking for residential home(s), and investors looking for real estate or rental properties. You will make money by receiving a commission (a percentage of each loan) in return for bringing customers to the lender.
Note that the fee is paid either by the borrower or the lender, and is more or less between 1 percent and 2 percent of the total loan amount. Meanwhile, some mortgage firms also charge fees for applications or other ancillary services.
Smaller firms generally have a higher margin than larger ones, especially due to the fact that smaller firms have lower overhead and ongoing expenses. Margins can range from 10 percent up to 50 percent or more, depending on the size of the operation.
Your firm can be small or large. Normally, a small mortgage firm consists of a team of 1 to 5 people. If you own and operate the business, you can run the business out of your home.
However, most brokerage firms operate out of an office, since most borrowers want to meet with a mortgage broker in a professional setting.
You can also choose to leverage the many mortgage franchise opportunities in the United States and tap from a well proven business model.
With a franchise, your chance of error and failure are greatly reduced and you can achieve success more easily than when you set out on your own.
So if you’re interested in joining this ever growing industry, take your time to research and consider any of these franchises mentioned below.
17 Best Mortgage Franchise Opportunities and Their Cost
1. Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
Established in 1969, this company provides buying and selling services for residential and commercial real estate. The company also streamlines the delivery of mortgages, and home and title insurance.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investments: $62,500 – $364,700
- Net-worth Requirement: $150,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2 percent
2. Centum Franchise
Centum is a national network of independently owned and operated mortgage broker firms. This company is federally incorporated and is part of a global network of franchise organizations that includes financial services, real estate, travel services and hotel accommodations.
Established in October 2002, the CENTUM network has rapidly grown to include over 175 member locations that employ over 1200 mortgage agents across Canada and the US.
Financial Requirements
- Not Available
3. American Lenders Service Company
American Lenders Service Company is the leading provider of collateral recovery services in the United States. This company is very capable of servicing and skip-tracing a Lender’s loan account in default regardless of the whereabouts of the Collateral.
They also handle Repossession, Investigations, and remarketing. To qualify for a franchise you are expected to have a minimum net worth of $50,000 and at least grade 12 educations. You are also expected to have no criminal record and a clean driving record.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment:$50,000-$513,000
- Initial Franchise Fee:$5,000
4. Blue Collar Financial Group
This is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Blochhead City Construction Company and operates within the Real Estate industry. Note that the company is involved in Real Estate buying and helps customers finance their real estate programs.
Also offering home loan financing programs based on a patent pending concept, the company leverages the business method to simplify the home buying process for home buyers.
The company strives to provide customers with the least expensive way of purchasing a home in a timely manner, paying the greatest possible attention to the details that support their customer
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $150,000
- Net worth requirement: $150,000
- Total Investment: $110,000 – $110,000
- Initial Franchise fee: $50,000
5. Avalar Real Estate & Mortgage Network
Avalar is explicitly designed to benefit real estate and loan professionals through the company’s trademarked Path to Success system.
Avalar provides enticing opportunities in office development through innovative recruiting and retention programs attracting top-producing agents wherever real estate is sold or mortgages are originated.
Avalar’s major focus is to create an agent-driven environment that empowers its workforce through independence and long-term financial stability.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment:$31,000-$315,500
- Initial Franchise Fee:$4,400-$12,500
- Royalty Fee:5 percent
6. Nectar Mortgages
Nectar exists because they believe that there’s a better way of doing mortgage brokering. Most mortgage brokers are part of a group, but they tend to think and act independently.
It simply means that the actual experience you’ll have from broker to broker varies enormously, even if they present you with the same options.
But at Nectar, customers should not only get the right loan for them, but have a consistently great experience regardless of the broker.
Nectar offers a great service and supports every step of the way – not just during the application process, but as long as you have a mortgage.
Financial Requirements
- Not Available
7. Motto Mortgage
This is an innovative mortgage brokerage franchise and the second member of the RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. family of brands that sell mortgage brokerage franchises in all 50 states.
The burgeoning mortgage franchise brand has already sold more than 40 franchises across the country, including over 20 that have already opened their doors, since launching last October.
Motto Mortgage is well acknowledged among consumers especially since it stands for competitive loan options, transparency and exceptional customer service that franchised brokerages provide. Motto Mortgage is now available to even more consumers, as franchise sales expand outside of the RE/MAX Network.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $52,800 – $73,800
- Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000 – $31,500
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: $4.5K/mo.
- Ad Royalty Fee: $300/mo.
8. Club Finance
Club Financial Services is a specialist mortgage lender who offers a range of products and Club Financial Services Director services specifically designed to suit the needs of the most discerning home buyers, property investors and those wishing to refinance.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $125,000
- Net worth requirement: $400,000
- Total Investment: $143,256 – $394,227
- Initial Franchise fee: $35,000
9. Huffman Builders
This company have been engaged in real estate development, construction, and sales since the 1970’s. They excel in all aspects of specialty medical facilities and turnkey medical/professional offices.
Huffman will find your site, coordinate architecture and engineering, construct your facility, and finance all interim costs for your new project.
Huffman Builders also delivers innovative investment and brokerage services. Huffman Builders provides the most complete set of services in the industry. Huffman Builders is a build-to-suit developer, providing turnkey real estate development, design, and construction services.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $9,500 – $9,500
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $9,500
- Total Investment: $9,500 – $9,500
10. Diamond Financial
Diamond Financial remains one of the best sources for business loans and with over 50 years of combined experience and established relationships in this industry they can creatively structure and package loan to allow the best possibility of financing. This company are your direct source to the nation’s largest and most aggressive SBA and conventional lenders.
Financing solutions can be applied to business acquisitions, franchise purchasing or start-ups, building and leasehold improvements or expansions, equipment purchases, debt restructuring, working capital, franchise fees or the buying out of partners.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment:$21,825-And Up
- Initial Franchise Fee:$15,000
11. Homes & Land
This is an all-inclusive real estate marketing website offering thousands of luxury home listings and houses for sale throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Each real estate listing provides extensive information about the property for sale along with photos, virtual tours and local housing market information.
The information available goes far beyond the real estate listing, you can also find real estate tips, moving guides, mortgage rates, home selling guides or you can get expert assistance from a top real estate agent.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $47,500
- Net-Worth Requirement: $150,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Total Investment: $47,500 – $116.000
12. Global Financial
Over 30 million businesses in America seek capital each year and as mentioned over 90 percent must look to sources other than banks. The great news is over 50-70 percent of those companies qualify for your funding options.
Global Financial Training Program will train you to run your own business, arranging loans for businesses that need money to grow. You will get paid up to 15 percent for every deal you make, creating the potential for unlimited income!
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $25,000
- Initial Investment: $20,000
13. Smartline
This company provides mortgage brokerage services. It offers mortgage brokering, home loans, and home insurance, and commercial and other loans. The company was founded in 1999 and also provides franchise opportunities.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $13,000 + $6,000 mentoring + Operating Capital.
- Franchise Fee: $100 per month after initial 12 months
14. The Loan Consultants
You can become a successful financing specialist by joining the nation’s oldest and largest business opportunity in the industry.
The Loan Consultants business opportunity is recession proof, offering the product everyone needs – money. You can establish your respected position in finance with the company’s easy to follow and proven business model.
Financial Requirements
- Total Investment: $13,800 ($9,800 for newly separated veterans)
- Liquid cash requirement: $13,800
15. The Mortgage Bureau
The Mortgage Bureau is a specialist mortgage lender who offers a range of products and services specifically designed to suit the needs of the most discerning home buyers, property investors and those wishing to refinance.
The Directors of The Mortgage Bureau have drawn on combined industry experience totalling in excess of 60 years to ensure they deliver quality products backed by personal service.
Financial Requirements
- Not Available
16. ERA REAL ESTATE
ERA functions as a franchisor in the residential real estate industry. Its services include buying homes, selling homes, and home financing and mortgage services.
The company offers its services through brokers, sales associates, and agents in the United States and internationally. Today, it is one of the world’s leading residential franchise brokerage networks.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investment: $47,700 – $209,900
- Royalty Fees: 6 percent
17. RE/MAX
RE/MAX is one of the World’s largest and most successful network of Real Estate Brokerage. Once you choose RE/MAX you have the power and support of their worldwide network and the proof is in the results – nobody in the world sells more Real Estate than RE/MAX.
Although almost all real estate agents are independent contractors, the RE/MAX franchise was established to advance that concept to the higher level.
One of the most important parts of the franchise exploration process is the validation all franchisees will receive from current RE/MAX Broker/Owners. Their firsthand experiences with the brand can be very helpful in decision-making process.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investment: $40,000 – $230,500
- Royalty Fees: Varies
Developing your own business in the mortgage loan sector may be simpler than it sounds. You can avoid drama and politics of starting from the scratch and create your own advancement opportunities by joining any of these top franchises mentioned above.