CALIFORNIA ONLY
MOSO Real Estate Agent
Licensing and Onboarding
DFPI MLO License
DRE-Endorsed MLO License
- Must be W-2.
- Separate license, not tied to a Real Estate License.
- Can work as 1099 or W-2.
- Must hold a current, active California Real Estate License (Salesperson or Broker).
Want to Join MOSO and keep 1099 Status?
I am currently
Has a DFPI license
I want to obtain DRE license and keep 1099 status
Has a DRE license
My DRE license is with another broker. I want to move to MOSO
Path A: Current DFPI LO Seeking DRE License to Keep 1099 Status
Recommendation: It is recommended that DFPI-licensed LOs obtain a DRE license and move their loan origination endorsement to DRE to maintain 1099 Independent Contractor status.
Here is the official link to the CA Department of Real Estate (DRE)'s Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License. Additionally, you will need to meet the DRE's requirement for MLO License Endorsement Information.
Note that you cannot originate loans under the DRE until you've been licensed through the DRE and affiliated/sponsored Loan Factory through the DRE. You may want to keep your DFPI license until you are fully licensed through the DRE.
Complete Pre-Licensing Education
- Visit the OnlineEd Loan Factory Portal to create an account
- Select all three required courses (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and Real Estate Finance)
- Apply code LOAN30 to receive a 30% discount
Apply for Exam/License
- Create or Login to your DRE eLicensing account
- Choose option "Applying for an exam or exam/license ... account?" and complete the "Salesperson Examination/License Application (RE 435)"
- Pay the fee
Pass the Exam
- Schedule and take the exam (refer to the Sample Practice Exam or Flash Cards to prepare).
- Pass with a score 70%.
Applying for the license
- Login to eLicensing account
For detailed instructions on applying for your license, please refer to the official DRE resources: DRE Application Guide - What Documents You Need
Hang your license with Loan Factory
- Login to your eLicensing account
- Hang your license with Loan Factory (DRE #: 10771313)
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: Already DRE Licensed (but hang the DRE license with another DRE broker) and Moving to MOSO
Follow these steps if you're already DRE licensed with another broker and want to move to MOSO
Obtain sponsorship from Loan Factory
- Login to your eLicensing account
- Hang your license with Loan Factory (DRE #: 10771313)
Make sure your NMLS loan license is "California - DRE"
- Look up on https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org if you currently has NMLS license under "California - DFPI" or "California - DRE".
- If "California - DFPI", please call them 855-665-7123 (9AM - 9PM EST) and ask them to switch to "California - DRE"
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
Find answers to common questions about licensing, onboarding, and the MOSO Real Estate Division
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you've done less than 3 transactions in the last 12 months.
MOSO
MOSO
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.
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.
Yes, you must. Here's how to add your Realtor license to your profile:
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen and select "My Profile" from the dropdown menu.
- Next, navigate to the Business Information tab.
- Find the question that asks, "Do you have a real estate license?" and select Yes.
- This will prompt the system to display additional fields where you can enter your Realtor license details.
Not at this time.
Not at this time.
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.
The marketing team can help with generating marketing collateral. We will designate a compliance officer for escalations.
This will be a feature of the transaction management system when developed.
Yes, you can.
Yes, you can join our new chat space here.
This will be on the product roadmap.
Not if you are a salesperson. If you are a broker-associate under MOSO, then yes as long as the other broker allows it.
We currently do not allow business brokering through Loan Factory. You may want to continue at your current company.
The real estate software is being developed by the same team that developed the loan officer software.
(Answer to be provided)
(Answer to be provided)
For more information, visit: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/
Testing centers:
- Sacramento
- Oakland
- Fresno
- La Palma (Orange County)
- San Diego
Here are the general requirements for salesperson in CA: https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/requirementssales.html
See DRE page for Out of State examinees: https://www.dre.ca.gov/Examinees/OutOfState.html
Loan Factory will provide E&O coverage in each transaction.
Agents will receive 100% commission minus $695 fee per transaction.
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.
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.
The corporate office will is located at 2195 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95122. Agents will be welcomed to use the office as needed.
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.
Yes, you will need to complete and sign a new ICA form for the real estate division. Additionally, we
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). That information can be found here.
You will be required to submit another set of fingerprint through the NMLS when requesting the MLO endorsement. Information can be found here and on this FAQ.
You may be able to use your old fingerprint background check if the most recent report hasn't expired on your NMLS account.
Here is more information on the fingerprint background check from the NMLS.
The forms are handled by a combination of teams that include scott@loanfactory.com, licensing@loanfactory.com, and onboarding@loanfactory.com.