More US Real Estate Agents Are Adding Mortgage Licenses to Control the Full Homebuying Journey

United States | September 23, 2026: For US real estate agents, the biggest gap in a home sale often begins after the purchase agreement is signed. The buyer moves to a separate mortgage loan officer, while the agent waits for updates on underwriting, appraisal and financing. A growing number of agents are trying to close that gap by becoming licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs) themselves.

The approach, known as dual licensing, allows agents to handle both real estate representation and mortgage origination, potentially giving them greater control over the transaction from pre-approval through closing.

What Changed After 2022

Dual licensing has existed for years, but attention increased after a December 2022 Federal Housing Administration letter addressing multiple roles and compensation in FHA-insured transactions.

The timing was significant. By December 2022, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate had climbed to 6.31%, compared with roughly 3.12% a year earlier, according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data cited in the report.

As financing became more difficult for buyers, agents faced greater pressure to keep transactions moving. The FHA clarification therefore arrived at a time when maintaining control over the financing process had become more important to many real estate professionals.

Why Agents Are Looking Beyond Real Estate Commissions

The underlying transaction numbers also create a strong reason for agents to understand mortgage origination.

The 2025 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 88% of buyers purchased with the help of an agent or broker, while 74% financed their purchase.

That means a large share of transactions involve both an agent and a mortgage professional.

For an agent holding both licenses, the model can potentially create additional mortgage origination compensation alongside the real estate commission, subject to federal and state laws, disclosures and company policies.

But agents who have adopted the model say the motivation is not only additional income.

 

The Bigger Draw Is Control From Pre-Approval to Closing

Dual-licensed agents can remain involved in more stages of a transaction instead of handing the financing relationship to another professional after an offer is accepted.

That can mean greater visibility into:

• Pre-approval

• Loan processing

• Underwriting

• Appraisal

• Financing conditions

• Closing timelines

For buyers, the attraction is continuity. Instead of moving between separate professionals, they may have one primary point of contact coordinating the real estate and financing sides of the transaction.

For agents, the model can also strengthen the client relationship because financing delays are often closely connected to whether a property transaction closes on time.

The Compliance Burden Is Much Bigger

The additional control comes with additional regulation.

An agent who becomes an MLO must comply with mortgage-related requirements involving RESPA, TILA, mortgage licensing rules, compensation, referrals and consumer disclosures.

Those obligations do not replace the responsibilities attached to a real estate license. They are added on top of them.

That creates a key risk for agents: holding two licenses does not mean the two roles can be blended informally. Clients must understand which capacity the professional is acting in, while compensation and referral arrangements must be structured according to applicable rules.

Incorrect disclosures or compensation arrangements can expose professionals and companies to regulatory action, fines and licensing consequences.

 

Getting an MLO License Requires More Than a Real Estate License

Becoming an MLO involves a separate qualification process.

Prospective MLOs generally need to complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education, including federal law, mortgage products, general mortgage knowledge, ethics and uniform state content.

They must also pass the SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator Test with a minimum score of 75%, followed by requirements such as background checks, credit review and fingerprinting.

Licensing does not end there. MLOs generally need annual continuing education, including eight hours of federal continuing education, along with applicable state requirements.

What This Means for the US Housing Market

The rise of dual licensing reflects a broader shift in how some agents are approaching the homebuying process.

Higher borrowing costs have made financing a larger part of the buyer experience, while agents face pressure to provide more value in a competitive market. Combining real estate and mortgage capabilities can give some professionals greater control over that process, but it also creates a substantially heavier compliance responsibility.

Agents considering the model should first check:

• Whether their state permits the structure and what restrictions apply

• Whether their real estate brokerage allows agents to originate mortgages

• Which mortgage company can sponsor the MLO license

• How compensation and referral arrangements will be structured

• What additional disclosures and compliance procedures will be required

Dual licensing therefore represents more than an additional credential. For some agents, it is becoming a way to stay involved throughout the transaction; for others, the licensing, sponsorship and compliance requirements may outweigh the benefits.

What happens next: As mortgage affordability continues to influence buyer decisions, the role of the real estate agent could increasingly extend beyond finding and negotiating a property to coordinating more of the financing journey as well.