26-31-317. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PRACTICES. It is a violation of this part for a person or individual subject to this part, in connection with mortgage loan origination activity in this state, to:

(1) Directly or indirectly employ any scheme, device or artifice to defraud or mislead borrowers or lenders or to defraud any person;

(2) Engage in any unfair or deceptive practice;

(3) Obtain property by fraud or misrepresentation;

(4) Solicit or enter into a contract with a borrower that provides that the person or individual subject to this part may earn a fee or commission through "best efforts" to obtain a loan, even though no loan is actually obtained for the borrower;

(5) Solicit, advertise or enter into a contract for specific interest rates, points or other financing terms, unless the terms are actually available at the time of soliciting, advertising or contracting;

(6) Conduct any business covered by this part without holding a valid license as required under this part, or assist or aid and abet any person in the conduct of business under this part who does not hold a valid license as required under this part;

(7) Fail to make disclosures as required by this part or any other applicable state or federal law including rules or regulations promulgated thereunder;

(8) Fail to comply with provisions of this part or rules promulgated under this part, or fail to comply with any other state or federal law, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, applicable to any business authorized or conducted under this part;

(9) Make any false or deceptive statement or representation, including a false or deceptive statement or representation concerning rates, points or other financing terms or conditions for a residential mortgage loan, or engage in bait and switch advertising;

(10) Negligently make any false statement or knowingly and willfully omit a material fact in connection with any information or reports filed with a government agency or the NMLSR or in connection with any investigation conducted by the director or another governmental agency;

(11) Make any payment, threat or promise, directly or indirectly, to any person for the purpose of influencing the independent judgment of the person in connection with a residential mortgage loan, or make any payment, threat or promise, directly or indirectly, to any appraiser of a property, for the purpose of influencing the independent judgment of the appraiser with respect to the value of the property;

(12) Collect, charge, attempt to collect or charge, or use or propose any agreement purporting to collect or charge any fee prohibited by this part;

(13) Cause or require a borrower to obtain property insurance coverage in an amount that exceeds the replacement cost of the improvements as established by the property insurer;

(14) Fail to truthfully account for moneys belonging to a party to a residential mortgage loan transaction;

(15) Be employed simultaneously by more than one (1) mortgage broker or mortgage lender licensed or required to be licensed under part 2 of this chapter;

(16) Enter into concurrent contractual relationships for delivery of mortgage loan origination services to more than one (1) mortgage broker or mortgage lender licensed or required to be licensed under part 2 of this chapter;

(17) Obtain any exclusive dealing or exclusive agency agreement from any borrower;

(18) Delay closing of any residential mortgage loan for the purpose of increasing interest, costs, fees or charges payable by the borrower;

(19) Accept any fees at closing which were not previously disclosed fully to the borrower;

(20) Obtain any agreement or instrument in which blanks are left to be filled in after signing by a borrower;

(21) Enter into any agreement, with or without the payment of a fee, to fix in advance a particular interest rate or other term in a residential mortgage loan unless written confirmation of the agreement is delivered to the borrower as required by rule pursuant to this chapter;

(22) Violate standards of conduct adopted by the NMLSR applicable to a person taking a written test administered pursuant to section 26-31-308, Idaho Code, as found by the director; or

(23) Obtain or attempt to obtain credit for education required pursuant to section 26-31-307 or 26-31-310, Idaho Code, by means of false pretenses or representations.

History:

[26-31-317, added 2009, ch. 97, sec. 2, p. 307; am. 2013, ch. 64, sec. 20, p. 159.]