S.C. Code Ann. § 40-58-20
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Act as a mortgage broker" means to act, for compensation or gain, or in the expectation of compensation or gain, either directly or indirectly, by: (i) soliciting, processing, placing, or negotiating a mortgage loan for a borrower from a mortgage lender or depository institution or offering to process, place, or negotiate a mortgage loan for a borrower from a mortgage lender or depository institution, (ii) engaging in tablefunding of a mortgage loan, or (iii) acting as a loan correspondent, as that term is defined in 24 C.F.R. Part 202 et seq., whether those acts are done by telephone, by electronic means, by mail, or in person with the borrowers or potential borrowers. "Act as a mortgage broker" also includes bringing a borrower and lender together to obtain mortgage loan or rendering a settlement service as described in 12 U.S.C. 2602(3) and 24 C.F.R. Part 3500. 2(b).
(9) "Clerical or support duties" mean administrative functions after the receipt of an application by a licensed mortgage originator or broker, such as gathering information, requesting information, word processing, sending correspondence, or assembling files, and may include:
(15) "Escrow funds" means money entrusted to a mortgage lender by a borrower for the purpose of payment of taxes and insurance or other payments to be made in connection with the servicing of a mortgage loan.
Text of (16) effective until September 16, 2017.
(16) "Exempt person" means:
(j) a manufactured home retailer and its employees if performing only clerical or support duties in connection with the sale or lease of a manufactured home and the manufactured home retailer and its employees receive no compensation or other gain from a mortgage lender or a mortgage broker for the performance of the clerical or support duties.
Text of (16) effective September 16, 2017.
(16) "Exempt person" means:
(19) "Immediate family member" means a spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or grandchild including stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings, and adoptive relationships.
Text of (20) effective until September 16, 2017.
(20) "Individual servicing a mortgage loan" means an employee of a mortgage lender licensed in this State, that:
(a) collects or receives payments including payments of principal, interest, escrow amounts, and other amounts due on existing obligations due and owing to the licensed mortgage lender for a mortgage loan when:
(c) otherwise finalizes collection through the foreclosure process.
Text of (20) effective September 16, 2017.
(20) "Individual servicing a mortgage loan" means an employee of a mortgage lender licensed in this State, that:
(a) collects or receives payments including payments of principal, interest, escrow amounts, and other amounts due on existing obligations due and owing to the licensed mortgage lender for a mortgage loan including, but not limited to, when:
(22) "Loan commitment" or "commitment" means a statement, written or electronic, by the mortgage lender setting forth the terms and conditions upon which the mortgage lender is willing to make a particular mortgage loan to a particular borrower.
Text of (23) effective until September 16, 2017.
(23) "Loan originator" means a natural person who, in exchange for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain as an employee of a licensed mortgage broker, solicits, negotiates, accepts, or offers to accept applications for mortgage loans, including electronic applications, or includes direct contact with, or informing mortgage loan applicants of, the rates, terms, disclosures, and other aspects of the mortgage loan. The definition of "loan originator" does not include an exempt person described in item (16) of this section or a person solely involved in extensions of credit relating to timeshare plans, as that term is defined in Section 101(53D) of Title 11, United States Code. The definition of loan originator does not apply to an individual servicing a mortgage loan as that term is defined in this chapter until July 31, 2011, unless the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or a court of competent jurisdiction determines before that time that those individuals servicing mortgage loans are "loan originators" as that term is defined in the SAFE Act pursuant to Section 1508 of Title V of The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289. Solely acquiring and reviewing a credit report does not constitute acting as a loan originator.
Text of (23) effective September 16, 2017.
(23) "Loan correspondent" means a person engaged in the business of making mortgage loans as a third party originator and who does not engage in all three of the following activities with respect to each mortgage loan:
(c) fund the mortgage loan utilizing an unrestricted warehouse or credit line.
A loan correspondent is not a mortgage lender.
Text of (24) effective until September 16, 2017.
(24) "Make a mortgage loan" means to close a mortgage loan, advance funds, offer to advance funds, or make a commitment to advance funds to a borrower under a mortgage loan.
Text of (24) effective September 16, 2017.
(24) "Loan originator" means a natural person who, in exchange for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain as an employee of a licensed mortgage lender, solicits, negotiates, accepts, or offers to accept applications for mortgage loans, including electronic applications, or includes direct contact with, or informing mortgage loan applicants of, the rates, terms, disclosures, and other aspects of the mortgage loan. The definition of "loan originator" does not include an exempt person described in item (16) or a person solely involved in extensions of credit relating to timeshare plans, as that term is defined in Section 101(53D) of Title 11, United States Code. The definition of loan originator does not apply to an individual servicing a mortgage loan as that term is defined in this chapter until July 31, 2011, unless the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or a court of competent jurisdiction determines before that time that those individuals servicing mortgage loans are "loan originators" as that term is defined in the SAFE Act pursuant to Section 1508 of Title V of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289. Solely acquiring and reviewing a credit report does not constitute acting as a loan originator.
Text of (25) effective until September 16, 2017.
(25) "Managing principal" means a natural person who meets the requirements of Section 40-58-50(B) and who agrees to be primarily responsible for the operations of a licensed mortgage broker.
Text of (25) effective September 16, 2017.
(25) "Make a mortgage loan" means to close a mortgage loan, advance funds, offer to advance funds, or make a commitment to advance funds to a borrower under a mortgage loan.
Text of (26) effective until September 16, 2017.
(26) "Mortgage broker" means a person who acts as a mortgage broker, as that term is defined in item (1) of this section.
Text of (26) effective September 16, 2017.
(26) "Managing principal" means a natural person who meets the requirements of Section 37-22-140(C) and who agrees to be primarily responsible for the operations of a licensed mortgage lender.
Text of (27) effective until September 16, 2017.
(27) "Mortgage lender" means a person who acts as a mortgage lender as that term is defined in item (2) of this section or engages in the business of servicing mortgage loans for others or collecting or otherwise receiving mortgage loan payments directly from borrowers for distribution to another person. This definition does not include engaging in a tablefunded transaction.
Text of (27) effective September 16, 2017.
(27) "Mortgage broker" means a person who acts as a mortgage broker, as that term is defined in item (1).
Text of (28) effective until September 16, 2017.
(28) "Mortgage loan" means a loan made to a natural person primarily for personal, family, or household use, primarily secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other security interest on residential real property or security interest arising under an installment sales contract or equivalent security interest against the borrower's dwelling and: (i) located in South Carolina, (ii) negotiated, offered, or otherwise transacted within this State, in whole or in part, or (iii) made or extended within this State.
Text of (28) effective September 16, 2017.
(28) "Mortgage lender" means a person who acts as a mortgage lender as that term is defined in item (2) or engages in the business of servicing mortgage loans for others or collecting or otherwise receiving mortgage loan payments directly from borrowers for distribution to another person. This definition does not include engaging in a tablefunded transaction.
Text of (29) effective until September 16, 2017.
(29) "Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry" means a mortgage licensing system developed and maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators of licensees licensed pursuant to this chapter.
Text of (29) effective September 16, 2017.
(29) "Mortgage loan" means a loan made to a natural person primarily for personal, family, or household use, primarily secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other security interest on residential real property or security interest arising under an installment sales contract or equivalent security interest against the borrower's dwelling and: (i) located in South Carolina, (ii) negotiated, offered, or otherwise transacted within this State, in whole or in part, or (iii) made or extended within this State.
Text of (30) effective until September 16, 2017.
(30) "Nontraditional mortgage product" means a mortgage product other than a thirty-year fixed rate mortgage loan.
Text of (30) effective September 16, 2017.
(30) "Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry" means a mortgage licensing system developed and maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators of licensees licensed pursuant to this chapter.
Text of (31) effective until September 16, 2017.
(31) "Person" means a natural person, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation, association, or other group engaged in joint business activities, however organized.
Text of (31) effective September 16, 2017.
(31) "Nontraditional mortgage product" means a mortgage product other than a thirty-year fixed rate mortgage loan.
Text of (32) effective until September 16, 2017.
(32) "Processor or underwriter" means an employee of a mortgage broker, mortgage lender, or exempt person who performs clerical or support duties at the direction of and subject to the supervision and instruction of a licensee or exempt person and may include direct contact with applicants but does not include soliciting, negotiating, accepting, or offering to accept applications that include personal identifying information as defined in Section 16-13-510(D) for mortgage loans including electronic applications or informing applicants of the rates, terms, disclosures, and other aspects of the mortgage loan.
(c) A processor or underwriter who is an independent contractor may not engage in the activities of a processor or underwriter unless the independent contractor processor or underwriter obtains and maintains a license as provided by rule or regulation pursuant to Section 40-58-100.
Text of (32) effective September 16, 2017.
(32) "Person" means a natural person, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation, association, or other group engaged in joint business activities, however organized.
Text of (33) effective until September 16, 2017.
(33) "Registered loan originator" means a natural person who meets the definition of loan originator and is an employee of a depository institution or a subsidiary that is wholly owned and controlled by the depository institution and regulated by a federal banking agency or an institution regulated by the Farm Credit Administration and is registered with and maintains a unique identifier through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
Text of (33) effective September 16, 2017.
(33) "Processor or underwriter" means an employee of a mortgage broker, mortgage lender, or exempt person who performs clerical or support duties at the direction of and subject to the supervision and instruction of a licensee or exempt person and may include direct contact with applicants but does not include soliciting, negotiating, accepting, or offering to accept applications that include personal identifying information as defined in Section 16-13-510(D) for mortgage loans including electronic applications or informing applicants of the rates, terms, disclosures, and other aspects of the mortgage loan.
(c) A processor or underwriter who is an independent contractor may not engage in the activities of a processor or underwriter unless the independent contractor processor or underwriter obtains and maintains a license as provided by rule or regulation pursuant to Section 37-22-270.
Text of (34) effective until September 16, 2017.
(34) "Residential real property" means real property located in the State of South Carolina upon which there is located or is to be located one or more single-family dwellings or dwelling units that are to be occupied as the owner's dwelling, and includes real estate and residential manufactured home (land/home) transactions.
Text of (34) effective September 16, 2017.
(34) "Registered loan originator" means a natural person who meets the definition of loan originator and is an employee of a depository institution or a subsidiary that is wholly owned and controlled by the depository institution and regulated by a federal banking agency or an institution regulated by the Farm Credit Administration and is registered with and maintains a unique identifier through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
Text of (35) effective until September 16, 2017.
(35) "RESPA" means the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, 12 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq. and regulations adopted pursuant to it by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Text of (35) effective September 16, 2017.
(35) "Residential real property" means real property located in the State of South Carolina upon which there is located or is to be located one or more single-family dwellings or dwelling units that are to be occupied as the owner's dwelling, and includes real estate and residential manufactured home (land/home) transactions.
Text of (36) effective until September 16, 2017.
(36) "Soliciting, processing, placing, or negotiating a mortgage loan" means, for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain, either directly or indirectly, accepting or offering to accept an application for a mortgage loan, assisting or offering to assist in the processing of an application for a mortgage loan, soliciting or offering to solicit a mortgage loan, or negotiating or offering to negotiate the terms or conditions of a mortgage loan.
Text of (36) effective September 16, 2017.
(36) "RESPA" means the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, 12 U.S.C. Section 2601, et seq., and regulations adopted pursuant to it including, but not limited to, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule.
Text of (37) effective until September 16, 2017.
(37) "Tablefunding" means a settlement at which a loan is funded by a contemporaneous advance of loan funds and an assignment of the loan to the person advancing the funds.
Text of (37) effective September 16, 2017.
(37) "Soliciting, processing, placing, or negotiating a mortgage loan" means, for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain, either directly or indirectly, accepting or offering to accept an application for a mortgage loan, assisting or offering to assist in the processing of an application for a mortgage loan, soliciting or offering to solicit a mortgage loan, or negotiating or offering to negotiate the terms or conditions of a mortgage loan.
Text of (38) effective until September 16, 2017.
(38) "TILA" means the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1601 et seq. and regulations adopted pursuant to it by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Text of (38) effective September 16, 2017.
(38) "Tablefunding" means a settlement at which a loan is funded by a contemporaneous advance of loan funds and an assignment of the loan to the person advancing the funds.
Text of (39) effective until September 16, 2017.
(39) "Unique identifier" means a number or other identifier assigned by protocols established by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
Text of (39) effective September 16, 2017.
(39) "TILA" means the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1601, et seq., and regulations adopted pursuant to it including, but not limited to, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule.
Text of (40) effective until September 16, 2017.
(40) "Qualified loan originator" means a natural person who acts as a loan originator exclusively for a mortgage broker licensee and who is not an employee of the mortgage broker. Unless otherwise indicated, a qualified loan originator is subject to the requirements of a loan originator under this chapter.
Text of (40) effective September 16, 2017.
(40) "Unique identifier" means a number or other identifier assigned by protocols established by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
Text of (41) effective September 16, 2017.
Text of (1) effective September 16, 2017.
Text of (1) effective until September 16, 2017.
HISTORY: 2009 Act No. 67, Section 5; 2010 Act No. 287, Section 1, eff June 29, 2010; 2017 Act No. 93 (S.366), Section 10, eff September 16, 2017.
2009 Act No. 67 Section 7 provides as follows:
"Except as otherwise provided herein, this act is effective January 1, 2010, except that the definition of 'mortgage loan originator' does not include an individual servicing a mortgage loan as that term is defined in Section 37-22-110(22) and Section 40-58-20(20) until July 31, 2011."
Prior Laws:1988 Act No. 544; 1993 Act No. 172, Section 1; 1996 Act No. 430, Section 2; 1998 Act No. 336, Sections 3A, 3B, 12; 2005 Act No. 7, Section 1.
2010 Act No. 287, Section 3,provides as follows:
"Any provision of this act deemed by HUD to conflict with its interpretation of the SAFE Act, provided for in Section 1508 of Title V of The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289, must be interpreted, applied, or amended in such a way so as to comply with HUD's interpretation of the SAFE Act. If any provision of this act cannot be interpreted, applied, or amended in such a way so as to comply with the SAFE Act, that provision must be severed from the act and shall not affect the remainder of the act's compliance with the SAFE Act. The regulating authority shall adopt emergency regulations or take other actions necessary to ensure compliance with the SAFE Act and the regulating authority's continued jurisdiction over and supervision of the mortgage business in this State."
The 2010 amendment added the definition for "qualified loan originator".
2017 Act No. 93, Section 10, in (1), deleted ", as that term is defined in 24 C.F.R. Part 202 et seq.," following "loan correspondent"; in (16), deleted (f), which had related to a natural person who sells residential real estate and who lends or services no more than five purchase money notes secured by mortgages, redesignated accordingly, added (j), relating to any other person deemed exempt pursuant to the SAFE Act, and made nonsubstantive changes; in (20)(a), inserted "including, but not limited to,"; inserted (23), relating to the definition of "loan correspondent", and redesignated the other subsections accordingly; in (24), substituted "mortgage lender" for "mortgage broker", and deleted "of this section" following "in item (16)"; in (26), substituted "Section 37-22-140(C)" for "Section 40-58-50(B)"; in (27), deleted "of this section" following "item (1)"; in (28), deleted "of this section" following "item (2)"; in (33)(c), substituted "Section 37-22-270" for "Section 40-58-100"; in (36), substituted "including, but not limited to, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule" for "by the Department of Housing and Urban Development"; and, in (39), substituted "including, but not limited to, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule" for "by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System".