Self-Paced Online · Professional Development

Mortgage Boot Camp: Loan Officer Training for Real Estate Pros

Learn how loans really get qualified, priced, underwritten and closed. Fourteen chapters of practical mortgage training from veteran instructor Doug Vairo, for new loan officers and real estate agents who want to understand financing.

Enroll Now: $395 See the Curriculum

14 Chapters

From the basics to closing

10–15 Hours

Self-paced, on your schedule

100% Online

Revisit lessons anytime

Who This Course Is For

Real Estate Agents

Understand how your buyers get qualified, spot financing problems early and talk confidently with lenders. Cross-training in mortgage helps you keep more deals on track.

New & Aspiring Loan Officers

Build a working foundation in mortgage math, income qualifying, rate sheets, the 1003, credit and loan types before you're in front of borrowers.

Brokers & Team Leaders

Give your agents a practical financing foundation so they can guide buyers better and work more effectively with lending partners.

Course Curriculum: Mastering Mortgage Theory

Fourteen chapters in three phases, plus a finale that pulls it all together.

Phase 1: Foundations & Math
1. The Mortgage Industry. An overview of primary and secondary markets and the life cycle of a loan.
2. Mortgage Calculations. Master debt-to-income formulas and amortization schedules. Prepare to work hard.
3. Income Qualifying. Evaluate W-2, commission and tax-free income to calculate true purchasing power.
4. Strategic Points. Use discount points correctly to maximize the borrower's financial benefit.
5. Rate Sheets. Read and analyze wholesale lender rate sheets with precision.
Phase 2: Underwriting & Compliance
6. The 1003 Application. A section-by-section walkthrough of the Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA).
7. Credit Reports (FICO vs. "FAKE-O"). Learn the difference between consumer scores and true mortgage credit by auditing a live credit report.
8. TRID Compliance. A clear overview of TILA-RESPA timelines and required disclosures.
Phase 3: Valuation & Specialized Loans
9. Appraisals. How valuation data affects underwriting, and why appraisers are vital to risk management.
10. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs). How ARM indexes, margins and lifetime caps work together.
11. Title Reports. Review title commitments to clear properties for a successful closing.
12. Loan Types. The core differences between Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA financing.
13. Reverse Mortgages. Clear up the myths about HECMs and understand how they actually work.
14. The Grand Finale: Pulling It All Together. Connect the math, guidelines, credit and property data into one streamlined process.

Meet Your Instructor

DV

Doug Vairo

Director, New York School of Real Estate

Since 1998, Doug Vairo has trained thousands of loan officers and real estate agents around the country, for companies including Countrywide, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and Exit Realty, and for organizations such as the Staten Island, Brooklyn and Bronx Boards of REALTORS®.

Students have called him an "Entertrainer" and a "Facilitrainer" because he weaves fun into every lesson. Doug is the author of Credit Smart and the Loan Officer Training Boot Camp you'll study here.

Watch for the tips Doug spreads throughout the course. Some are silly, some are funny, and all of them will help you understand the material on a deeper level.

Enroll in the Mortgage Boot Camp

Course Only

$395

  • 14 chapters of mortgage training
  • The concepts, formulas and calculations behind qualifying borrowers
  • Self-paced, about 10–15 hours
Enroll Now

Manfred Members

Save 50%

  • 50% off the Mortgage Boot Camp
  • 50% off broker licensing courses
  • Unlimited continuing education
  • Unlimited NY State exam prep materials
See Membership Options

This is a professional-development course. It does not provide real estate licensing credit, real estate continuing-education credit or NMLS credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a loan officer licensing course?

No. The Mortgage Boot Camp is professional-development training. It does not count toward NMLS loan officer licensing, real estate licensing or continuing education. It's designed to give you a practical understanding of how mortgages work.

Do I need mortgage experience to take it?

No. The course starts with an overview of the mortgage industry and builds from there. Experienced agents and loan officers will also find value in the chapters on calculations, rate sheets, credit and TRID.

How long does it take?

Most students finish in about 10 to 15 hours. Because it's self-paced, you can move as quickly or as slowly as you like and revisit any chapter.

Why should a real estate agent learn mortgage?

Financing is where many deals fall apart. Agents who understand qualifying, credit, appraisals and loan types can prepare buyers better, catch problems earlier and communicate more effectively with lenders.

Who do I contact with questions?

Call or text Manfred Real Estate Learning Center at 518-855-3680, or contact us online.