NMLS
The system that tracks licensed loan originators. Every licensed loan officer and mortgage broker has an NMLS number. You can look up any of them at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Every licensed loan officer has an NMLS number, and it is printed on the preapproval letter. Looking it up is a two-minute way to check that the lender on a buyer's letter is real.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The preapproval names a loan officer and an NMLS number. The public lookup confirms the license and the company.
| What you check | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| The loan officer's NMLS number | Whether they are licensed and where |
| The company's NMLS number | Whether the lender is registered |
| No NMLS number on the letter | A reason to ask for one before relying on it |
The NMLS number makes a preapproval letter checkable.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That NMLS approves loans. It licenses the people who make them; it says nothing about a particular buyer's approval.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
One piece of your sale. Here is where all the pieces live.
In your room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Keighbor keeps your whole home sale in one place and defines every term like this one right where you meet it, in the step you're on. Free to set up, with or without an agent.