All states

Can a real estate agent be the loan officer on the same deal in Washington?

Yes, with conditions

By Gary Basin, co-founder of Ike · Reviewed

Yes, with conditions in the statute. Washington’s Mortgage Broker Practices Act permits a real-estate licensee to originate the loan on the same transaction with a written free-to-shop disclosure and separate business records.

What Washington requires

  • Give the written disclosure that the buyer is free to shop for a loan elsewhere, as RCW 19.146.0201(14)(b) requires.
  • Keep the mortgage business separate in records and identity, as subsection (14)(c) requires.
  • Hold an active Washington MLO license sponsored by a licensed mortgage company.

What the rule says

Except when complying with (b) and (c) of this subsection, act as a loan originator in any transaction (i) in which the loan originator acts or has acted as a real estate broker or salesperson or (ii) in which another person doing business under the same licensed real estate broker acts or has acted as a real estate broker
RCW 19.146.0201(14)(a). Washington Mortgage Broker Practices Act prohibited acts, read October 15, 2026.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE ME AS A LOAN ORIGINATOR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS TRANSACTION. YOU ARE FREE TO COMPARISON SHOP WITH OTHER MORTGAGE BROKERS AND LENDERS, AND TO SELECT ANY MORTGAGE BROKER OR LENDER OF YOUR CHOOSING
RCW 19.146.0201(14)(b). Washington written free to shop disclosure, read October 15, 2026.
A real estate broker or salesperson licensed under chapter 18.85 RCW who also acts as a mortgage broker must carry on such mortgage broker business activities and must maintain such person's mortgage broker business records separate and apart from the real estate broker activities conducted pursuant to chapter 18.85 RCW.
RCW 19.146.0201(14)(c). Washington separate business records and identities, read October 15, 2026.

What applies in every state

  • Both licenses must be active. The mortgage side is an individual MLO license, sponsored by a licensed mortgage company, with the SAFE test, 20 hours of education and a background check behind it.
  • Federal law sits above the state rule. RESPA Section 8 bars pay for a referral, and Regulation Z sets what a loan originator may be paid for. Compensation on the mortgage side is for origination work performed. The RESPA and referral-fee explainer walks through it.
  • The lender on the loan has its own rule. FHA permits the dual role since 2022. Conventional lenders decide file by file in writing.
  • The buyer keeps the right to choose any lender, and the disclosure says so.

Join the interest list

Ike is preparing to sponsor real-estate agents as part-time loan originators, state by state. Tell us your state and we will write when there is news for agents there.

Your email and state go to our form processor and are used only to send program news. See the privacy notice.

This page is general information about state licensing rules, not legal advice, and not a statement by any regulator. Rules change. Confirm the current rule with the state regulator or a licensed attorney before acting on it.

Mortgage services are offered by Ike Mortgage LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eichler Inc. Ike Mortgage LLC is preparing its mortgage license applications and is not yet licensed in any state. Its NMLS identifier will appear here when issued.

Every state, on one page