As used in this chapter, and in the Commissioner's administration and enforcement of Finance Code, Chapter 157 and Chapter 180, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

(1) "Application," as used in Tex. Fin. Code §§157.002(6) and 180.002(19), and paragraph (16) of this section means a request, in any form, for an offer (or a response to a solicitation for an offer) of residential mortgage loan terms, and the information about the mortgage applicant that is customary or necessary in a decision on whether to make such an offer, including, but not limited to, a mortgage applicant's name, income, social security number to obtain a credit report, property address, an estimate of the value of the real estate, and/or the mortgage loan amount.

(2) "Commissioner" means the Savings and Mortgage Lending Commissioner appointed under Finance Code, Chapter 13.

(3) "Commissioner's designee" means an employee of the Department performing his or her assigned duties or such other person as the Commissioner may designate in writing. A Commissioner's designee is deemed to be the Commissioner's authorized "personnel or representative" as such term is used in Finance Code, Chapter 157.

(4) "Compensation" includes salaries, bonuses, commissions, and any financial or similar incentive.

(5) "Department" means the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending.

(6) "Dwelling" means a residential structure that contains one to four units and is attached to residential real estate. The term includes an individual condominium unit, cooperative unit, or manufactured home, if it is used as a residence.

(7) "Mortgage applicant" means an applicant for a residential mortgage loan or a person who is solicited (or contacts a mortgage banker or originator in response to a solicitation) to obtain a residential mortgage loan, and includes a person who has not completed or started completing a formal loan application on the appropriate form (e.g., Fannie Mae's Form 1003 Uniform Residential Loan Application), but has submitted financial information constituting an application, as provided by paragraph (1) of this section.

(8) "Mortgage banker" has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fin. Code §157.002.

(9) "Mortgage company" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a "residential mortgage loan company" as that term is defined by Tex. Fin. Code §157.002.

(10) "Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry" or "NMLS" has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fin. Code §157.002 and §180.002.

(11) "Offers or negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan," as used in Tex. Fin. Code §157.002(6) and §180.002(19) means, among other things, when an individual: (A) arranges or assists a mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant in obtaining or applying to obtain, or otherwise secures an extension of consumer credit for another person, in connection with obtaining or applying to obtain a residential mortgage loan; (B) presents for consideration by a mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant particular residential mortgage loan terms (including rates, fees and other costs); or (C) communicates directly or indirectly with a mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant for the purpose of reaching a mutual understanding about particular residential mortgage loan terms.

(12) "Originator" has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fin. Code §157.002 and §180.002 in defining "residential mortgage loan originator." Paragraphs (11) and (16) of this section do not affect the applicability of such statutory definition. Individuals who are specifically excluded under such statutory definition, as provided by Tex. Fin. Code §180.002(19)(B), are excluded under this definition and for purposes of this chapter. Persons who are exempt from licensure as provided by Tex. Fin. Code §180.003 are exempt for purposes of this chapter, except as otherwise provided by Tex. Fin. Code §180.051.

(13) "Residential mortgage loan" has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fin. Code §157.002 and §180.002 and includes new loans and renewals, extensions, modifications, and rearrangements of such loans. The term does not include a loan which is secured by a structure that is suitable for occupancy as a dwelling, but is used for a commercial purpose such as a professional office, salon, or other non-residential use, and is not used as a residence.

(14) "Residential real estate" has the meaning assigned by Tex. Fin. Code §180.002 and includes both improved or unimproved real estate or any portion of or interest in such real estate on which a dwelling is or will be constructed or situated.

(15) "Social media site" means any digital platform accessible by a mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant where the mortgage banker or sponsored originator does not typically own the hosting platform but otherwise exerts editorial control or influence over the content within their account, profile, or other space on the digital platform, from which the mortgage banker or sponsored originator posts commercial messages or other content designed to solicit business.

(16) "Takes a residential mortgage loan application," as used in Tex. Fin. Code §157.002(6) and §180.002(19) in defining "residential mortgage loan originator" means when an individual receives a residential mortgage loan application for the purpose of facilitating a decision on whether to extend an offer of residential mortgage loan terms to a mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant, whether the application is received directly or indirectly from the mortgage applicant or prospective mortgage applicant, and regardless of whether or not a particular lender has been identified or selected.

Source Note: The provisions of this §81.2 adopted to be effective July 5, 2012, 37 TexReg 4873; amended to be effective September 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 5703; amended to be effective June 30, 2016, 41 TexReg 4640; amended to be effective January 7, 2018, 42 TexReg 7583; amended to be effective January 3, 2021, 46 TexReg 157; amended to be effective November 4, 2021, 46 TexReg 7389