Monthly Summary of Mortgage Activities
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30341-5565
MARCH 2002 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - MORTGAGE DIVISION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------**IMPORTANT NOTES**
STAFF CHANGES
Melinda G. Kinard has joined the Mortgage Division as Director of Mortgage Licensing and Administration. Melinda has been with the Department since 1978. She began service with the Department as a bank and information systems examiner in the Albany, GA field office. She moved to Atlanta in 1983 and worked actively with the Department's information systems. She has served as the Director of Information Systems and Training for the Department before joining the Division.
DISTRIBUTING THE MONTHLY SUMMARY: The Monthly Summary of Mortgage Activities is emailed each month to licensees. The Department requests that all licensees provide the Department a valid email address in order to receive the Monthly Summary each month in a timely manner. For all other licensees, the Monthly Summary is available on the Department's website http://www.state.ga.us/dbf/bulletins.html each month. This delivers the Mortgage Summary to you more rapidly and efficiently. If you have not already provided the Department with your email address, please contact the Mortgage Division at dbfmort@dbf.state.ga.us or at 770-986-1633 if you have any questions.
Licenses issued in Georgia are subject to revocation, withdrawal or suspension. To verify the current status of a license call 770-986-1269 or check our web site at http://www.state.ga.us/dbf/
PER LOAN FEES - "Per loan" fees for the second half of 2001 were due by March 1, 2002. If you hold a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender license, you were mailed a "per loan" fee reporting form. Please use this form to remit your fees. Regardless of the volume of loans (even "0" loans closed), you should send in the fee report. If you are a licensed mortgage broker or if you are exempt from licensing or registration a copy of the "per loan" fee reporting form can be found on our website or in Rule 80-5-1-.04 (2) issued by this Department. The fine for late filing of your Per Loan Fees is $1,000. These fines have been posted to the delinquent licensees. If you do not close the loan in your name, and your name is not on the security deed - you do not owe any "per loan" fees. Proper payment of these fees will be monitored by our examination team.
The ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWAL process is now underway. Renewal application forms for the fiscal year 2003 mortgage licenses were distributed beginning February 7, 2002. A $300 late fine will be assessed against licensees who fail to return the renewal application form prior to April 1, 2002. As in prior years, all outstanding issues such as fines, fees, stale audits, complaint resolution, etc. must be resolved before your renewal license will be granted. Licensees who do not complete the renewal process by June 30, 2002, will have their licenses expire, and will have to cease operations. If you have not received your renewal application forms, please contact the Department immediately.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Lenders and some Brokers have licenses which are dependent upon the filing of current audited financial statements with this office. The licensees whose audits are more than 15 months old may be subjected to fines and/or revocation of their license. It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the licensee, as
professionals licensed to operate in the mortgage industry to insure that these audits are current AT ALL TIMES. Care must be taken to employ a CPA who has time to service your account in a manner so as to protect your license. Requests for an extension will not be granted. License renewals will not be granted for those licensees whose audits are not current. Please keep in mind that the net worth requirements in Georgia are predicated on tangible assets. Assets including but not limited to items such as "goodwill" and accounts "due from" shareholders, affiliated companies, directors or officers will not count as tangible assets.
NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE FOR LICENSE RENEWALS
Any renewal application received by the Department which does not contain all of the required information or documentation may be returned to the applicant for correction.
Those with missing documentation which pass our initial cursory review or that have other supervisory issues will be mailed a notification of the deficiency. These notices will be made either by fax, e-mail or by regular U.S. Postal Service mail. The Department will rely on the most recent fax number, e-mail address or mailing address which we have been given by the licensee as to where to send this notice. Applications received without payment or paid with a bad check will not be considered as being "filed." Late filing fines may be levied.
The receipt and/or correction of information will be expedited using fax or e-mail were applicable. However, if you prefer or require your notice to be sent by U.S. Postal Service mail, please send a stamped, self addressed envelope with your renewal application.
EMPLOYMENT OF FELONS
An unfortunate trend has been noticed in the Mortgage Industry in Georgia. While we rarely receive an application from an individual who is unable to complete the licensing requirements due to a problem with their criminal background, we often discover that these individuals are seeking employment from persons licensed by this Department. Please be reminded that each mortgage licensee has signed an oath pledging that they will not employ individuals who are disqualified from employment in the residential mortgage industry by the provisions of OCGA Section 7-1-1004 (e). OCGA Section 7-1-1004 (f) permits this Department to obtain conviction data on individuals working in the mortgage industry. Employers should run background checks on any person seeking employment in order to comply with this law. If the Department discovers that a licensee has employed a felon, the licensee will be fined $1,000 for each violation, and will be issued a Notice of Intent to Revoke their license. The Georgia law was changed in Senate Bill 353 to require background checks. That bill has been sent to the Governor for signature and would be effective July 1, 2002. There will be more information regarding this in the next issue.
"Statutory Employees" Must be Licensed
The Department has received a number of inquiries concerning whether "statutory employees" fall within the employee exemption of O.C.G.A 7-1-1001(11). O.C.G.A. 7-1-1001(11) provides an exemption from the licensing requirement for "A natural person employed by a licensed mortgage broker, a licensed mortgage lender, or any person exempted from the licensing requirements of this article when acting within the scope of employment and under the supervision of the licensee or exempted person as an employee and not as an independent contractor. To be exempt, a natural person must be employed by only one such employer ... ." In addition, Department Rule 80-11-4-.03 provides that the employee exemption applies only to natural persons who meet all of the following criteria:
a. An employee must be employed by just one licensee and work exclusively for that licensee; b. An employee may not solicit, process, or place loans for anyone else while claiming the exemption; c. An employee's procedures and activities must be supervised by the licensee on a daily basis, and the licensee is responsible for the actions of such employees; and d. An employee may not be paid or compensated for performance of mortgage activity on a 1099 basis.
The Department agrees with the position of the Internal Revenue Service that statutory employees are independent contractors. See Publication 15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide (Rev. January 2002). Our reading of this law indicates that under certain very limited instances, such an independent contractor may be treated as a "statutory employee" for IRS purposes. But, the person is essentially working independently. "Statutory employees," then, are not employees within the meaning of O.C.G.A. 7-1-1001(11) and do not qualify for the employee exemption from the GRMA licensing requirements.
Furthermore, the Department advises employers to be wary and to follow the procedures mandated by the IRS whenever an employee claims total exemption from withholding and his or her earnings would normally exceed $200 per week, or if an employee claims total exemption from withholding and claims more than 10 exemptions. See Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide (Rev. January 2002).
Failure to comply with the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act and Rules of the Department may result in fines and sanctions, including the revocation of a license issued by the Department. You may access the laws and regulations concerning these and similar issues on the Department's website at http://www.ganet.org/dbf and the IRS website at http://www.irs.treas.gov/.
LICENSEES/REGISTRANTS REVOKED, EXPIRED, SUSPENDED, WITHDRAWN OR DENIED IN MARCH 2002
ID#
7274 12050 12086 12974 13123 13174 14103 14198 14413 14440 14544 14819 15102 15348 15451 15585 15604 15725 15792 15806 15969 16027 16179 16313 16550 16720 17165
NAME
HOMES FOR BETTER LIVING LYON MTG GRP LLC YOUNG-MCKENZIE ASSOC PEACH PLUS FINL INC AMERISTAR MTG CORP ROBINSON-HUMPHREY CO CHARTER CAP SVCS INC BASKIN, DELOIS FULLER, EUGENE STEWART, JOHN S EDWARD JONES MTG, LLC ATL FINL GRP INC ONEPIPELINE.COM, INC. MANHATTAN GRP MTG INC EQUITY GRP FINL MTG MILLER, GEOFFREY C AMER ADVANTAGE FUNDIN YOUNG, DONALD L CANNON, STEVEN M KIDD, JULIA A MADDOX, KEVIN L COX FINL CENTERS, INC. COVENANT CAPITAL MTG, INC PSE GRP INC USALOAN SE INC WINDAU, MELANIE SUE GOLDEN CAPITAL INV INC
CODE
BD BD BD BD BD RD LD BD BD BD LD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD BD
REVOKED
03/04/2002
03/19/2002
03/13/2002 03/26/2002
03/28/2002 03/13/2002
EXPIRED
SUSPENDED
WITHDRAWN
03/01/2002 03/06/2002 03/27/2002
10/03/2001 03/26/2002 03/27/2002 03/06/2002
03/12/2002 03/12/2002 03/29/2002 03/19/2002
03/27/2002 03/07/2002
03/28/2002 03/06/2002 03/29/2002 03/28/2002 03/04/2002
03/07/2002 03/25/2002 03/26/2002
DENIED
TOTAL: 27
LICENSEES/REGISTRANTS APPROVED OR REINSTATED IN MARCH 2002
ID# COMPANY NAME
CITY
17076 17110 17111 17116 17117 17119 17120 17132 17154 17156 17161
5889 7268 17105 17134 17139 17140 17148 17155 17162 16339 17160
Stockton Turner, LLC Wyndham Capital Mortgage, Inc. Willie Lamar Turner Affiliate Lending Corporation Ceridian Mortgage Corporation Best Choice Mortgage, Inc. Christopher Wilson Woods Virginia Milner Consola Donald G. Landry Willie Lee Mason Deborah Gay Williams Springfield Finl + Ameron Mortgage Corp * Mortgagebot, LLC 1st Preference Mortgage Pinckney K. Ridley IV HLM Mortgage Co. Platinum Mortgage, LLC Michael Scott Moore Georgia Loan Services, Inc. American Freedom Mtg, Inc * Henry C. Ransom, Jr.
MAITLAND CHARLOTTE MORROW ATLANTA ATLANTA MARIETTA CARTERSVILLE DULUTH GAINESVILLE HADDOCK WEST POINT DOUGLASVILLE MARIETTA CEDARBURG BALTIMORE MARIETTA DECATUR MARIETTA SNELLVILLE MARIETTA ATLANTA ALPHARETTA
ST MB CODE
FL B NC B GA B GA L GA L GA B GA B GA B GA B GA B GA B GA B GA L WI L MD L GA B GA B GA B GA B GA B GA L GA B
ORIGINAL APPROVAL
03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 06/18/1993 08/04/1995 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/09/2001 03/01/2002
RENEWAL
03/01/2002 03/01/2002 04/03/2002 03/01/2002 03/01/2002 04/03/2002 04/03/2002 04/03/2002 04/03/2002 03/01/2002 04/03/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 03/08/2002 04/03/2002 03/08/2002 03/15/2002 03/27/2002
REINSTATED
TOTAL: 22
B = BROKER L = LENDER R = REGISTRANT
+ Downgrade Lender to Broker * Upgrade Broker to Lender
FINES ASSESSED IN MARCH 2002
ID#
ISSUE
DATE
FINE REASON
FINE
PAID DATE
COMPANY NAME
CITY
ST
5649 03/22/2002 FEE
$ 1,000
Chase Mortgage Company-West
Edison
NJ
5756 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Damla Corporation
Stone Mountain
GA
5819 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
First Choice Mortgage, Inc.
Augusta
GA
5831 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. 04/02/200 Equity One, Inc.
Marietta
GA
5832 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Harvest Mortgage Co., Inc.
Marietta
GA
5873 03/04/2002 B&R
$500. 03/20/200 Monticello Mortgage Corporation
Atlanta
GA
5919 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Infinity Mortgage Corporation
Atlanta
GA
6024 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Washtenaw Mortgage Company
Ann Arbor
MI
6244 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Associates First Capital Mortgage
Irving
TX
6245 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
CitiFinancial Mortgage Company, Inc.
Irving
TX
6348 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Seacoast Equities, Inc.
La Mesa
CA
6500 03/19/2002 B&R
$500.
Mortgage and Investment Services
Rome
GA
6500 03/19/2002 FILE
$500.
Mortgage and Investment Services
Rome
GA
FINES ASSESSED IN MARCH 2002
ID#
ISSUE
DATE
FINE REASON
FINE
PAID DATE
COMPANY NAME
CITY
ST
6820 6833 6836
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000. $1000.
First Franklin Financial Corporation
Atlanta
GA
Saxon Mortgage, Inc.
Glen Allen
VA
Loans by Summerville, Inc.
Augusta
GA
7078 7410 7414 7439
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000. $1000. $1000.
04/01/200
AmTrust Mortgage Corporation Bann-Cor Mortgage First Consumer Credit, L.L.C. First Service Mortgage, Inc.
Atlanta
GA
Mission Viejo
CA
Dallas
TX
College Park
GA
11478 11586 11600 11764
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000. $1000. $1000.
C.F.M. Mortgage Co.
College Park
GA
Unicor Funding, Inc.
Mission Viejo
CA
The Miami Valley Bank
Lakeview
OH
Citizens Trust Bank Mortgage Services,
Decatur
GA
11830 12005 12095 12111
03/05/2002 03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/19/2002
B&R FEE FEE B&R
$500. $1000. $1000.
$500.
04/01/200
Southland Lending Group, LLC America's MoneyLine, Inc. Title West Mortgage, Inc. Adrain Appling
Marietta
GA
Glen Allen
VA
Woodland Hills
CA
Macon
GA
12111 12111 12191 12207
03/19/2002 UL 03/19/2002 FEL 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$3000. $1000. $1000. $1000.
04/01/200
Adrain Appling Adrain Appling NovaStar Mortgage, Inc. Macon Mortgage, Inc.
Macon
GA
Macon
GA
Westwood
KS
Macon
GA
12447 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Loan Store, Inc. (The)
Florissant
MO
12525 03/27/2002 BR
$250. 04/05/200 Daniel E. Greene, CPA
Charlotte
NC
12748 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Washington Mortgage Services, Inc.
Federal Way
WA
12868 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
World Wide Financial Services, Inc.
Southfield
MI
13019 13189 13283 13351 13384
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000. $1000. $1000. $1000.
Calmco Servicing L.P.
Austin
TX
E-Loan, Inc.
Dublin
CA
CFB Financial, Inc.
Carrollton
GA
Tribeca Lending Corp.
New York
NY
Macon Savings Bank, Inc. SSB
Franklin
NC
13475 13512 13532 13598
03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/13/2002
FEE FEE FEE B&R
$1000. $1000. $1000.
$500.
SouthPoint Financial Services, Inc.
Alpharetta
GA
Southstar Funding, LLC
Atlanta
GA
USA Financial Services, Inc.
Chantilly
VA
Vision One Mortgages Incorporated
Lithonia
GA
13598 03/13/2002 B&R
$500.
Vision One Mortgages Incorporated
Lithonia
GA
13640 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Champion Mortgage Co., Inc.
Parsippany
NJ
13653 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Vintage Mortgage Corporation
Voorhees
NJ
13669 03/05/2002 B&R
$500. 03/18/200 First Choice Mortgage Financial
Marietta
GA
13669 03/05/2002 CIC
$500. 03/18/200 First Choice Mortgage Financial
Marietta
GA
13795 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Golden First Mortgage Corp.
Melville
NY
13805 03/19/2002 UL
$6000.
E & Y Mortgage Corporation, Inc.
Macon
GA
13805 03/19/2002 BR
$250.
E & Y Mortgage Corporation, Inc.
Macon
GA
13805 03/19/2002 B&R
$500.
E & Y Mortgage Corporation, Inc.
Macon
GA
13805 03/19/2002 B&R
$500.
E & Y Mortgage Corporation, Inc.
Macon
GA
13805 03/19/2002 1013
$3000.
E & Y Mortgage Corporation, Inc.
Macon
GA
13983 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Union Bancshares Mortgage Corp.
Holiday
FL
14029 03/05/2002 B&R
$500. 03/14/200 Outback Builders, Inc. (The)
Woodstock
GA
14103 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Charter Capital Services, Inc.
Macon
GA
14203 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
BYL Bank Group
Tustin
CA
14337 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Laguna Capital Mortgage Corporation
Aliso Viejo
CA
FINES ASSESSED IN MARCH 2002
ID#
ISSUE
DATE
FINE REASON
FINE
PAID DATE
COMPANY NAME
CITY
ST
14383 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Homeowners Loan Corp.
Atlanta
GA
14635 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
First Funding Mortgage Corp.
Rosedale
NY
14796 03/05/2002 B&R
$500. 03/28/200 Nations Funding Group, Inc.
Atlanta
GA
14845 15036 15058 15059
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$250. $1000. $1000. $1000.
National Bank
Kileen
TX
Specialized Financial Services, Inc.
Bedford
TX
SWBC Mortgage Corporation
San Antonio
TX
Empire Home Lending Corporation
Boca Raton
FL
15061 03/01/2002 CIC
$500.
Affordable Mortgage Of Kingsbay, Inc.
Kingsland
GA
15061 03/01/2002 FILE
$500.
Affordable Mortgage Of Kingsbay, Inc.
Kingsland
GA
15336 03/01/2002 B&R
$500. 03/15/200 Adventure Mortgage Corporation
Dalton
GA
15336 03/01/2002 B&R
$500. 03/15/200 Adventure Mortgage Corporation
Dalton
GA
15336 03/01/2002 B&R
$500. 03/15/200 Adventure Mortgage Corporation
Dalton
GA
15336 03/01/2002 B&R
$500. 03/15/200 Adventure Mortgage Corporation
Dalton
GA
15337 03/19/2002 FILE
$500.
Village Home Loans, LLC
Atlanta
GA
15337 03/19/2002 B&R
$500.
Village Home Loans, LLC
Atlanta
GA
15375 15441 15467 15515
03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/04/2002
FEE FEE FEE B&R
$1000.
Mortgage Group, Inc. (The)
Columbia
SC
$1000. 04/01/200 Mortgage Network, Inc.
Danvers
MA
$1000.
Lighthouse Mortgage Services Co., Inc.
Huntingdon Valle
PA
$500. 03/18/200 R & R Mortgage Company, LLC
Douglas
GA
15657 15820 15820 15889
03/22/2002 03/12/2002 03/12/2002 03/12/2002
FEE B&R B&R FILE
$1000. $500. $500. $500.
NCS Mortgage Lending Company Allright Mortgage, Inc. Allright Mortgage, Inc. Fonseca Financial Services, Inc.
Norcross
GA
MABLETON
GA
MABLETON
GA
Stone Mountain
GA
16025 16035 16117 16131 16147
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000. $1000. $1000. $1000.
First Beneficial Mortgage Corporation
Charlotte
NC
1st Republic Mortgage, Inc. (New York)
Floral Park
NY
CreditCorp
Macon
GA
Interland Associates, Inc.
Savannah
GA
HomeSouth Mortgage Services, LLC
Hiram
GA
16179 03/01/2002 UL
$1000.
Covenant Capital Mortgage, Inc.
Douglasville
GA
16179 03/01/2002 FILE
$500.
Covenant Capital Mortgage, Inc.
Douglasville
GA
16179 03/01/2002 B&R
$500.
Covenant Capital Mortgage, Inc.
Douglasville
GA
16182 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. 04/02/200 Popular Financial Services, LLC
Marlton
NJ
16232 16277 16281 16299
03/22/2002 03/22/2002 03/13/2002 03/12/2002
FEE FEE FILE UL
$1000. $1000.
$500. $1000.
03/26/200
Home Star Mortgage Services, L.L.C CyberLoanOfficer. Com, Inc T.L.H. Mortgage Corporation GE Mortgage Inc.
Montvale
NJ
Oak Brook Terrace
IL
Norcross
GA
Chamblee
GA
16299 03/12/2002 FILE
$500. 03/26/200 GE Mortgage Inc.
Chamblee
GA
16302 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. 04/04/200 Boston Financial, Inc.
Marietta
GA
16308 03/22/2002 UL
$1000. 04/01/200 Select Mortgage Services, Inc.
Lilburn
GA
16308 03/22/2002 B&R
$500. 04/01/200 Select Mortgage Services, Inc.
Lilburn
GA
16312 03/27/2002 FILE
$500.
Georgia Mortgage Group, Inc.
Atlanta
GA
16333 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
Consumer Home Mortgage, Inc.
Melville
NY
16338 03/05/2002 B&R
$500. 04/01/200 Bridge Mortgage, Inc.
Villa Rica
GA
16443 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000.
HomeOne Credit Corp.
Houston
TX
16558 16585 16609 16627
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$250.
Mountain States Mortgage Centers, Inc.
Sandy
UT
$1000. 04/01/200 Professional Mortgage Corporation
City of Industry
CA
$1000.
Equity Services, Inc.
Raleigh
NC
$250.
Liberty Funding Services, Inc.
Morristown
NJ
FINES ASSESSED IN MARCH 2002
ID#
ISSUE
DATE
FINE REASON
FINE
PAID DATE
COMPANY NAME
CITY
ST
16901 16911
03/22/2002 FEE 03/22/2002 FEE
$1000. $1000.
Bristol Home Mortgage Lending, LLC
Atlanta
GA
EliteAgents, Inc.
Woodstock
GA
FINE REASON
1099 1099 employees
B&R BR CD CIC EMP FEE
Books & records Unapproved branch Violation of Cease & Desist Order Acq. of 25% ownership without approval Employer under C&D or revocation $6.50 fees not paid
LAR NSF REL REN UL OTH
FILE Loan files not properly maintained
Late filing Written Annual Report Check returned for insufficient funds Relocation of office without notice Renewal filed late Doing business with unlicensed entity Miscellaneous other