What you'll learn:
- Describe the real estate mortgage market, including how and why people finance properties with mortgages.
- Explain the size and scope of the U.S. residential mortgage market.
- List and discuss roles of the key players in the mortgage industry and the functions and roles they have.
- Apply current and historic mortgage regulations to financial and credit underwriting of mortgage loans
- Identify key mortgage types and describe the audience and markets for each.
- Delineate the various residential property types, and the risks each has to the mortgage lender.
- Articulate the financial and business terms and conditions related to mortgages, as well as the full meaning and importance of each.
- Explain the full consumer mortgage underwriting lifecycle from the consumer, originator, underwriter and financier POVs, and each step along the way.
- Conduct a borrower income analysis, read and understand credit history and reports, and evaluate the credit worthiness of a borrower.
- Evaluate appraisals and asset valuations, and the appraisals and the appraisal process.
- Explain titling and insurance, titling requirements and related title issues.
- Use (and not be afraid of) the math, rates and calculations behind mortgage pricing.
- Discuss mortgage metrics and be able to provide an overview of loan approvals and rejections.
- Identify financial distress in mortgages, including early warning signs, foreclosure alternatives, and loss mitigation strategies.
- You'll learn about loan servicing and servicing regulations.
- Define securitization, learn why financial institutions securitize mortgages, and advantages and disadvantages of securitization to the issuer and investor.
- Describe the mortgage securitization process, from origination, to packaging and to servicing a securitized portfolio of mortgages.
- Understand what a mortgage backed security (MBS) is, how rating agencies are involved in evaluating MBS securitizations, and appreciate the complexities.
Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a home loan? From application to foreclosure—and everything in between—this course pulls back the curtain on the modern U.S. mortgage industry.
This comprehensive course demystifies the U.S. residential mortgage industry by walking learners through the full lifecycle of a home loan—from origination to securitization. The course has been updated with fresh data, real-life examples, and today’s lending practices to match how the mortgage world works now.
You'll dive into essential topics like loan types, mortgage math, credit and risk assessment, regulatory frameworks, foreclosure strategies, securitization, and the servicing process. Unlike other courses, this program emphasizes a real-world, data-driven perspective and mirrors today’s mortgage lending environment.
By the end, you’ll gain not just theory, but the analytical tools and regulatory understanding needed to thrive in the ever-evolving mortgage finance space.
This course outline follows microlearning best practices. Each video lesson is limited to 7–10 minutes for optimal learner retention and engagement. Longer lessons from the original course have been split into smaller, focused parts.
Module 1: Foundations of U.S. Residential Mortgage Business
Course Welcome
Industry Overview – Part 1: History & Scope
Industry Overview – Part 2: Business Process
Residential Property Types
Mortgage Ecosystem Players
Loan Types – Part 1: Fixed vs Adjustable
ARM Mechanics – Margins, Indexes & Rate Caps
Loan Types – Part 2: FHA, VA & Others
Loan Types – Part 3: Conforming vs Non-Conforming
Module 2: Terms, Math & Risk Fundamentals
Terms & Conditions – Part 1: Common Clauses
Terms & Conditions – Part 2: Prepayment, Default
Mortgage Math – Part 1: Basic Concepts
Mortgage Math – Part 2: Payment Calculations
Mortgage Math – Part 3: Amortization
Loan Features – Part 1: Assumable & Convertible Mortgages
Loan Features – Part 2: Construction, Interest-Only & Balloon Loans
Understanding Balloon Mortgages
Second Mortgages, HELOCs & Lien Positioning
Subordination Clauses & Lien Exceptions
Risk & Rewards – Part 1: Borrower Risks
Risk & Rewards – Part 2: Lender Risks
Consumer Mortgage Lifecycle
Lender Mortgage Lifecycle
Reverse Mortgages – Structure, Eligibility & Risks
Module 3: Regulation, Distress & Market Landscape
Regulations – Part 1: Federal Oversight
Regulations – Part 2: State & Local Compliance
Foreclosure Avoidance Strategies – Part 1
Foreclosure Avoidance Strategies – Part 2
Market Size and Structure – Part 1
Market Size and Structure – Part 2
Special Mortgage Scenarios & Borrower Personas
Refinancing Use Cases – Rate-Term vs. Cash-Out
Module 4: Mortgage Analysis & Appraisal Techniques
Intro to Mortgage Analysis
Borrower Analysis – Part 1: Income
Borrower Analysis – Part 2: Financial Ratios
Credit Report Overview
Credit Report Interpretation
Decisioning Metrics – Part 1: LTV, DTI
Decisioning Metrics – Part 2: Combined Risk Factors
Risk Layering in Underwriting Decisions
Construction & Custom Property Appraisals
Appraisal Walkthrough – Part 1: Process
Appraisal Walkthrough – Part 2: Sample Report
Title and Insurance Fundamentals
Module 5: Servicing, Securitization & Wrap-upLesson Title
Loan Servicing – Part 1: Payment Collection
Loan Servicing – Part 2: Escrow & Monitoring
Intro to Securitization
Securitization – Part 1: Issuer View
Securitization – Part 2: Investor View
Mortgage-Backed Securities Lifecycle
MBS Ratings Overview
Capstone: Mortgage Case Simulation
