Virginia Law

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Advertisement" means a commercial message in any medium that promotes, directly or indirectly, a mortgage loan. The term includes a communication sent to a consumer as part of a solicitation of business, but excludes messages on promotional items such as pens, pencils, notepads, hats, calendars, etc., as well as rate sheets or other information distributed or made available solely to other businesses.

"Affiliate," for purposes of subdivision 3 of § 6.2-1602 of the Code of Virginia, means an entity of which 25% or more of the voting shares or ownership interest is held, directly or indirectly, by a company that also owns a bank, savings institution, or credit union.

"Bona fide employee," for purposes of Chapter 16 and this chapter, means an individual (i) whose manner and means of performance of work are subject to the right of control of, or are controlled by, a person and (ii) whose compensation for federal income tax purposes is reported, or required to be reported, on a W-2 form issued by the controlling person. However, the term shall not include an individual who is concurrently employed by two or more persons that are engaged in business as a mortgage lender or mortgage broker.

"Bureau," "commission," and "commissioner" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in § 6.2-100 of the Code of Virginia.

"Chapter 16" means Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 6.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Chapter 17" means Chapter 17 (§ 6.2-1700 et seq.) of Title 6.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Commitment" means a written offer to make a mortgage loan signed by a person authorized to sign such offers on behalf of a mortgage lender.

"Commitment agreement" means a commitment accepted by an applicant for a mortgage loan, as evidenced by the applicant's signature thereon.

"Commitment fee" means any fee or charge accepted by a mortgage lender, or by a mortgage broker for transmittal to a mortgage lender, as consideration for binding the mortgage lender to make a mortgage loan in accordance with the terms of a commitment or as a requirement for acceptance by the applicant of a commitment, but the term does not include fees paid to third persons or interest.

"Dwelling" means one-family to four-family residential property located in the Commonwealth.

"Fees paid to third persons" means the bona fide fees or charges paid by the applicant for a mortgage loan to third persons other than the mortgage lender or mortgage broker, or paid by the applicant to, or retained by, the mortgage lender or mortgage broker for transmittal to such third persons in connection with the mortgage loan, including, but not limited to, recording taxes and fees, reconveyance or releasing fees, appraisal fees, credit report fees, attorney fees, fees for title reports and title searches, title insurance premiums, surveys and similar charges.

"Lead generator" means a person who engages in a form of marketing activity in which the person collects and transmits a prospective borrower's contact information and minimal information pertaining to potential mortgage loans. A person shall not be considered a lead generator if the person collects a prospective borrower's social security number or sufficient personal information to enable a mortgage lender or mortgage broker to evaluate, in whole or in part, the prospective borrower's creditworthiness.

"Licensee" means a person licensed under Chapter 16.

"Loan processor or underwriter" means a person who, with respect to the origination of a residential mortgage loan, performs the following duties at the direction of and subject to the supervision and instruction of a licensed or exempt mortgage lender or mortgage broker: (i) receiving, collecting, distributing, or analyzing information common for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan or (ii) communicating with a consumer to obtain the information necessary for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan. A loan processor or underwriter does not include a person who (i) communicates with a consumer regarding a prospective residential mortgage loan prior to the consumer submitting a residential mortgage loan application, (ii) takes an application for or offers or negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan, or (iii) counsels consumers about residential mortgage loan terms. For purposes of this definition, the phrase "takes an application for or offers or negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan" shall be construed in accordance with subdivisions B 1 and B 2 of 10VAC5-161-20.

"Lock-in agreement" means a written agreement between a mortgage lender, or a mortgage broker acting on behalf of a mortgage lender, and an applicant for a mortgage loan that establishes and sets an interest rate and the points to be charged in connection with a mortgage loan that is closed within the time period specified in the agreement. A commitment agreement that establishes and sets an interest rate and the points to be charged in connection with a mortgage loan that is closed within the time period specified in the agreement is also a lock-in agreement. The interest rate that is established and set by the agreement may be either a fixed rate or an adjustable rate.

"Lock-in fee" means any fee or charge accepted by a mortgage lender, or by a mortgage broker for transmittal to a mortgage lender, as consideration for making a lock-in agreement, but the term does not include fees paid to third persons or interest.

"Mortgage lender," "mortgage broker," "mortgage loan" and "person" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in § 6.2-1600 of the Code of Virginia. For purposes of Chapter 16 and this chapter, the term "mortgage broker" does not include the following persons, provided that they are not also engaged in any activities for which a mortgage broker license is required: (i) a person engaged in the business of a loan processor or underwriter, (ii) a lead generator, and (iii) a noteholder, or servicer acting on behalf of a noteholder, that negotiates the modification of a mortgage loan in its portfolio. The payee named in a mortgage loan note shall be deemed to be the mortgage lender for purposes of Chapter 16 and this chapter.

"Mortgage loan originator," "Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry," "Registry," and "residential mortgage loan" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in § 6.2-1700 of the Code of Virginia.

"Personal, family or household purposes," for purposes of § 6.2-1600 of the Code of Virginia, means that the individual obtaining the loan intends to use the proceeds to build or purchase a dwelling that will be occupied by such individual or another individual as his temporary or permanent residence. The term includes a loan used to build or purchase a dwelling that will be (i) improved or rehabilitated by or on behalf of the purchaser for subsequent sale to one or more other individuals who will reside in the dwelling on a temporary or permanent basis, or (ii) leased by the purchaser to one or more other individuals who will reside in the dwelling on a temporary or permanent basis.

"Points" means any fee or charge retained or received by a mortgage lender or mortgage broker stated or calculated as a percentage or fraction of the principal amount of the loan, other than or in addition to fees paid to third persons or interest.

"Reasonable period of time" means that period of time, determined by a mortgage lender in good faith on the basis of its most recent relevant experience and other facts and circumstances known to it, within which the mortgage loan will be closed.

"Refinancing" for purposes of Chapter 16 and this chapter means an exchange of an old debt for a new debt, as by negotiating a different interest rate or term or by repaying an existing loan with money acquired from a new loan. "Refinancing" includes any loan modification.

"Senior officer," for purposes of §§ 6.2-1605, 6.2-1606, 6.2-1607, and 6.2-1608 of the Code of Virginia, means an individual who has significant management responsibility within an organization or otherwise has the authority to influence or control the conduct of the organization's affairs, including but not limited to its compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

"Stockholder," for purposes of § 6.2-1616 of the Code of Virginia, includes a member of a limited liability company.

"Subsidiary," for purposes of subdivision 3 of § 6.2-1602 of the Code of Virginia, means an entity of which 25% or more of the voting shares or ownership interest is held, directly or indirectly, by a bank, savings institution, or credit union.