A lender declines to quote on a 4-bedroom house because the applicants have 3 young children. Does refusing to quote solely because the applicants have young children violate the Fair Housing Act?
Correct Answer
B) Prohibited: familial status is protected by the Fair Housing Act
B. Refusing mortgage information solely because the applicants have young children is prohibited familial-status discrimination. The regulation covers access to loan information, not only final approval or denial. The number of bedrooms does not remove the stated discriminatory reason. Scope and exceptions: A creditor may ask about dependents and related expenses consistently without regard to prohibited bases. That is different from refusing service because a family has children. Source: 24 CFR 100.120(a), (b)(1) — https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-B/chapter-I/part-100/subpart-C/section-100.120 Dependents and financial obligations — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-lender-ask-about-your-children-or-dependents-when-applying-for-a-mortgage-or-home-equity-loan-en-355/
Why This Is the Correct Answer
B. Refusing mortgage information solely because the applicants have young children is prohibited familial-status discrimination. The regulation covers access to loan information, not only final approval or denial. The number of bedrooms does not remove the stated discriminatory reason. Scope and exceptions: A creditor may ask about dependents and related expenses consistently without regard to prohibited bases. That is different from refusing service because a family has children.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Permitted: household size is an underwriting factor, not a class
This is a child-based exclusion, not a documented expense analysis.
Option C: Prohibited only if the lender also declines on 2 other grounds
One prohibited basis is enough; two additional grounds are unnecessary.
Option D: Permitted where the lender applies the rule to all 4-bedroom homes
Applying the same exclusion to all four-bedroom homes does not make it nondiscriminatory.
Exam Tip
Financial obligations may be evaluated; familial status is not a reason to withhold a quote.
More Ethics & Fraud Questions
In a closing-readiness check, a disclosure specialist sees facts tied to Appraisal Fraud Detection. What should the file reflect?
An MLO recommends a loan with a low initial payment that will increase sharply in two years. The borrower says retirement income will be fixed and asks whether the payment can change. What is the appropriate response?
An MLO alters a bank statement to make the applicant's account balance appear higher and submits it to underwriting. Which response is appropriate?
A branch manager asks about a loan file because marketing proposes a rate the company is not prepared to offer. What should happen?
A borrower wants cash for necessary home repairs. A proposed refinance provides $15,000 cash but adds $12,000 in costs and extends repayment by 15 years. What is the best next step for the MLO?
Before closing, the team discovers that an ad shows an interest rate but omits the APR presentation. What is the safest compliant answer?
The loan team is resolving Privacy and Confidentiality during a quality-control sample. Which action best fits the rule?
A house last sold for $185,000 in January. In March it changes hands 3 times in 9 days, reaching $410,000, with the same appraiser and the same closing agent on every leg. Assuming the parties colluded to inflate appraisals without improvements to support the higher prices, what fraud scheme does this pattern illustrate?
For closings involving federally related mortgage loans, a title company pays a real estate brokerage $75 for each referred client who closes. The brokerage only passes along the client’s name and number. Does this referral payment comply with RESPA Section 8?
Before closing, the team discovers that a loan officer wants different terms because of a protected applicant characteristic. What is the safest compliant answer?
People Also Study
Federal Mortgage-Related Laws
24% of exam
General Mortgage Knowledge
20% of exam
Mortgage Loan Origination Activities
27% of exam
Uniform State Test Content
11% of exam
Related Study Resources
Previous Question
A mortgage file is paused during a policy refresh meeting because of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Which answer should avoid a shortcut that would misapply the rule?
Next Question
On a closed-end consumer mortgage secured by a dwelling, a borrower pays a brokerage $3,400 as compensation. The creditor also offers that brokerage compensation of 1.5% of the loan amount, not a credit for other consumer costs. May the brokerage accept both?
