Breaking into mortgage industry before becoming a loan officer – best starting roles?
I’m looking for some guidance from people already in the industry.
My long-term goal is to become a loan officer, but I don’t think jumping straight into a commission-only role with no experience is the smartest move. I’d rather build a solid foundation first and actually understand how deals work before taking that step.
For background:
I’ve been running my own online resale business for ~5 years (buying/selling, managing margins, etc.)
I’ve also spent a lot of time studying day trading, so I’m comfortable with risk/reward and analyzing numbers
I have an associate’s degree
I’m around real estate pretty often—my girlfriend is an agent, her partners are in the business, and I have family that flips houses consistently
I’m interested in this space because I like the idea of:
Working toward high income potential
Being around people more
Helping clients through major purchases like their first or dream home
My main question is:
What roles would you recommend starting in to learn the loan/mortgage side while still earning a base income?
I’ve been looking into things like:
Loan processor
Loan officer assistant
Mortgage company entry roles
But I’d really like to hear from people who’ve actually done it:
Where did you start?
What helped you learn the fastest?
Anything you wish you did differently early on?
Also, if anyone has insight specific to getting started in Missouri, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks in advance—just trying to approach this the right way and not skip steps.