(CALIFORNIA ONLY)

MOSO Real Estate Agent
Licensing and Onboarding

DFPI vs DRE License Types

DFPI MLO License (CA LO License)

  • Must be W-2
  • Separate license, not tied to Real Estate License

DRE-Endorsed MLO License

  • Can be 1099 or W-2
  • Must hold current California Real Estate License

Path A: Current DFPI MLO Seeking DRE License to Keep 1099 Status

Here is the official link to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License. You will also need to meet the DRE requirements for MLO License Endorsement Information.
1

Complete Pre-Licensing Education

  1. Visit the OnlineEd Loan Factory Portal to create an account
  2. Select all three required courses (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and Real Estate Finance)
  3. Apply code LOAN30 to receive a 30% discount
2

Apply for Exam/License

  1. Create or Log in to your DRE eLicensing account
  2. Select "Applying for an exam or exam/license ... account?" and complete the "Salesperson Examination/License Application (RE 435)"
  3. Pay the fee
3

Pass the Exam

4

Apply for the License

For detailed instructions on applying for your license, please refer to the official DRE resources

5

Transfer your license to Loan Factory

6

Sign the Real Estate Independent Contractor Agreement with Loan Factory. This may be automated and you may be able to sign online, as part of the onboarding process.

Path B: Currently, you hold a DRE real estate license with another real estate broker and a DFPI MLO license with Loan Factory.

MUST switch DFPI license to DRE-endorsed MLO license and transfer your DRE license to Loan Factory (You will practice both real estate and mortgage with Loan Factory)
1

Obtain sponsorship from Loan Factory

2

Make sure your NMLS loan license is "California - DRE"

  • Check https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org to see if you currently have an NMLS license listed under "California - DFPI" or "California - DRE".
  • If it is listed as "California - DFPI", please call 855-665-7123 (9AM - 9PM EST) and request a switch to "California - DRE".
3

Sign the Real Estate Independent Contractor Agreement with Loan Factory. This may be automated and you may be able to sign online, as part of the onboarding process.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am currently DFPI. Do I need to renew as a DRE or DFPI?

You do not have to renew as DRE, especially if you are not licensed by the DRE yet. You can remain licensed under the DFPI and originate loans but you will be paid as W2.

What should I do with my CA-DFPI license by the end of the year if I choose to remain 1099 and switch to CA-DRE?

If you choose to remain 1099 and transfer to CA-DRE, you have two options for your CA-DFPI license:

Do Not Renew: If you do not wish to keep your DFPI license, follow the Do Not Renew Workflow in NMLS to indicate that you do not want to renew this license.

Keep the License: If you want to keep your DFPI license, you must complete the CE courses (if required) and renew it. However, Loan Factory will end your CA-DFPI sponsorship by 12/31/2025, and your license status will be placed in Approved – Inactive after renewal.

To avoid any delays in originating loans and to remain on 1099 compensation, we strongly recommend you start the coursework to get your CA-DRE license now. Details on how to get your DRE license can be found here.

Note: Even if you switch your DRE license to be affiliated with Loan Factory through elicensing, you cannot originate loans under DRE license until you complete the steps to get the sponsorship through the NMLS under the DRE license. There are 2 parts to link, the eLicensing and then the NMLS.

I'm currently a California real estate agent and Loan Officer, and I wanted to inquire if I will be able to retain my DBA if I switch brokers. Currently, my DBA is associated with my present broker.

If you're a salesperson and transfer your DRE license over to Loan Factory, you'll need to use Loan Factory or one of our DBA's (TBD). If you are a broker, you're able to be a broker-associate for multiple brokerages and keep your other DBA with your present broker.

Can you advise how to become a Mentor for real estate or can I be excluded from mentor split?

Similar to the loan officer mentor/mentee program, we will have a list of mentors that mentees can reach out to to partner up and learn from.

Who is considered a new agent? How do you categorize a new member for real estate?

If you've done less than 3 transactions in the last 12 months.

What will the new Real estate division be called?

MOSO

What Loan Factory's / MOSO's DRE number?

01771313

I understand that as of 12/21/25 Loan Factory requires MLOs to have the DRE MLO license. I am currently with a real estate brokerage. Last I checked, if I want to originate mortgage loans and practice real estate loans, I can do so as long as the mortgage brokerage permits a DFPI license so I can affiliate my real estate license with a DRE real estate brokerage, otherwise, both licenses need to be with the DRE.

Loan Factory is not requiring MLOs to get their DRE license. LO's that are licensed through DFPI and sponsored by Loan Factory will be paid as W2 employees after 12/31/2025. This will still allow you to affiliate your DRE license with the other real estate brokerage.

As an option, LO's can get their real estate salesperson license (or in your case you're already licensed) and hang their DRE license with Loan Factory to originate loans and also practice real estate under Loan Factory or its DBA's.

What happens if I originate a loan this year under my CA-DFPI license but it doesn't close until next year? Will that cause any problems?

Starting December 31, 2025, all CA-DFPI MLO licenses must be paid as W-2. If the loan closes after the date you switch to W-2, the commission for that loan will be reported on your year-end W-2. The loan itself can still close without issue — only the way your commission is paid will change.

Important: If you do not get your DRE license in time for the renewal, you will still need to renew under DFPI until you get your DRE license to originate loans.

To remain on 1099 compensation, we recommend switching to the CA-DRE license before originating new loans.

If I have a realtor and an MLO license, do I need to enter my realtor license info anywhere?

Yes, you must. Here's how to add your Realtor license to your profile:

  1. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen and select "My Profile" from the dropdown menu.
  2. Next, navigate to the Business Information tab.
  3. Find the question that asks, "Do you have a real estate license?" and select Yes.
  4. This will prompt the system to display additional fields where you can enter your Realtor license details.
Can we do Property Management?

Not at this time.

Can we do Commercial transactions?

Not at this time.

What is our transaction management platform?

MOSO will be developing a transaction management platform but agents can use any available ones on the market. If there are features that you would like to have, please share with us.

Who is our point of contact for marketing and compliance?

The marketing team can help with generating marketing collateral. We will designate a compliance officer for escalations.

Where do we store the transaction specific documents? (example - Skyslope)

This will be a feature of the transaction management system when developed.

Can I join the real estate division and only do real estate?

Yes, you can.

Do we have a chat to meet other agents and collaborate?

Yes, you can join our new chat space here.

Is there any plan to connect preapproved Loan Factory clients with Loan Factory RE agents? For example Rocket retail does this.

This will be on the product roadmap.

Can I be the refer Realtor even if I work under a different broker?

Not if you are a salesperson. If you are a broker-associate under MOSO, then yes as long as the other broker allows it.

I want to continue as a Business Broker and want to discuss my opportunities.

We currently do not allow business brokering through Loan Factory. You may want to continue at your current company.

Will the real estate software be similar to the loan officer software?

The real estate software is being developed by the same team that developed the loan officer software.

I would still like to primarily do loans after obtaining my DRE license, but as I have done quite a few FSBO transactions in the past, and have some clients that would be interested in me assisting on both sides of their future transactions, I am open to following this path full force, to obtain the same kind of expertise with it that I have in loans.

(Answer to be provided)

Will the RE division be a member of the CVAR mls?

(Answer to be provided)

Where are the testing centers for DRE?

For more information, visit: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/

Testing centers:

  • Sacramento
  • Oakland
  • Fresno
  • La Palma (Orange County)
  • San Diego
What are the requirements to be a real estate agent/salesperson in California?

Here are the general requirements for salesperson in CA: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/requirementssales.html

Do I have to be a CA resident to be a licensed real estate agent?

See DRE page for Out of State examinees: https://www.dre.ca.gov/Examinees/OutOfState.html

E&O insurance for real estate agents, does Loan Factory provide that or agents need to get their own coverage?

Loan Factory will provide E&O coverage in each transaction.

What is the commission split?

Agents will receive 100% commission minus $695 fee per transaction.

Are we allowed to offer credits to buyers from our commission? If yes: a) Is this only permitted within the transaction, such as applying it toward closing costs? b) Are we also allowed to provide a cash rebate outside of escrow—for example, by LF mailing a check to the buyer and issuing a 1099?

a) Yes, it can only apply to allowable closing costs to the buyers. Make sure to check the underwriting guidelines.

b) No, credits must be disclosed to the lender.

What kind of support is provided?

Loan Factory / MOSO will host training events for agents and bring in guest presenters from the industry such as title companies, insurance companies, etc. For more support on transactions, we will have a list of mentors for mentee to work with.

Will we have any office location?

The corporate office is located at 2195 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95122. Agents will be welcomed to use the office as needed.

What happens to my current real estate purchase business (real estate transactions, not mortgage loans) if they do not close by 12/31/2025?

If you are a DRE salesperson with another brokerage and have active real estate transactions with them, we recommend that you close out those transactions first before transferring your real estate license over.

If I choose to retain my license under DFPI (instead of DRE), would I need to complete any new forms or documentation to switch from 1099 to W2?

Yes, you will need to complete and sign a new ICA form for the real estate division.

Would this transition require any additional background checks or fingerprints, or is it handled internally through HR/Licensing?

Depending on the status of your background check and fingerprints. The DRE/NMLS may require you to update your background check or fingerprints. Note that you will be required to do a set of fingerprints when first getting your DRE Real Estate license (for those not licensed).

You will be required to submit another set of fingerprint through the NMLS when requesting the MLO endorsement.

You may be able to use your old fingerprint background check if the most recent report hasn't expired on your NMLS account.

Could you please confirm which department (HR or Licensing) handles the forms and timeline for this change so I can coordinate properly?

The forms are handled by a combination of teams that include scott@loanfactory.com, licensing@loanfactory.com, and onboarding@loanfactory.com.