Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) Licensing Practice Test

Which fees are NOT allowed to change from the Loan Estimate to the closing?

1. Prepaid interest

2. Fees paid to creditor

3. Transfer taxes

4. Charges for third party services

The correct answer is: Fees paid to creditor

The fees that are not allowed to change from the Loan Estimate to the closing are those paid to the creditor. This is because they are considered to be "fine-tuned" charges that help ensure a clear understanding of the costs associated with the loan. The Loan Estimate provides borrowers with an initial disclosure of the terms and costs of a mortgage, which is intended to facilitate comparison shopping. When it comes to fees paid to the creditor, any changes from this amount could disrupt the transparency of what was originally presented to the borrower. In contrast, other fees, such as prepaid interest, transfer taxes, or charges for third-party services, can be subject to variations for specific reasons. For example, prepaid interest can fluctuate based on the closing date, transfer taxes may differ depending on the amount of the loan or property value, and charges for third-party services can also vary due to the services being performed. This reinforces the importance of the initial loan estimates in providing borrowers with stable, predictable costs directly associated with the creditor, which helps maintain trust and clarity throughout the borrowing process.