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Loan originator vs real estate agent

The differences between loan originators and real estate agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a real estate agent has an average salary of $91,788, which is higher than the $41,291 average annual salary of a loan originator.

The top three skills for a loan originator include customer service, origination and FHA. The most important skills for a real estate agent are customer service, real estate license, and excellent interpersonal.

Loan originator vs real estate agent overview

Loan OriginatorReal Estate Agent
Yearly salary$41,291$91,788
Hourly rate$19.85$44.13
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs10,71641,399
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4549
Years of experience6-

What does a loan originator do?

A Loan Originator is a potential liaison between borrowers and lenders. They help borrowers complete loan applications and evaluate which loans are most appropriate for the customers.

What does a real estate agent do?

A real estate agent helps owners in the selling or renting of houses, land, offices, buildings, or any piece of property. They should be knowledgeable in the area they work in, which local properties are in the market, and the competitive prices for various properties. It is their responsibility to either market or sells in the best possible and reasonable price and conditions. Negotiating is a vital skill for real estate agents as they act as the middleman for buyers and sellers. Most agents bill the client with a percentage of the final sale price as the fee, but some would get a fixed commission for every sale.

Loan originator vs real estate agent salary

Loan originators and real estate agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Loan OriginatorReal Estate Agent
Average salary$41,291$91,788
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $60,000Between $66,000 And $126,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYLong Beach, NY
Highest paying stateSouth DakotaWest Virginia
Best paying companyCentennial BankSanta Clara Valley Water District
Best paying industryTransportationFinance

Differences between loan originator and real estate agent education

There are a few differences between a loan originator and a real estate agent in terms of educational background:

Loan OriginatorReal Estate Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Loan originator vs real estate agent demographics

Here are the differences between loan originators' and real estate agents' demographics:

Loan OriginatorReal Estate Agent
Average age4549
Gender ratioMale, 54.0% Female, 46.0%Male, 43.4% Female, 56.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%13%

Differences between loan originator and real estate agent duties and responsibilities

Loan originator example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage the processing staff and also underwrite conventional loans for correspondent lenders.
  • Complete yearly the NMLS continuing education requirements.
  • Direct lender with FNMA while maintaining all loan servicing.
  • Increase revenues and product awareness by cross-selling service lines and packages.
  • Complete a rigorous training program and have obtained 25 NMLS state licensing requirements to be a loan originator.
  • Review FHA case number assignments, mortgage credit rejects and refinances authorizations to determine qualification.
  • Show more

Real estate agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage all accounting, cash management, budgeting and financing for individual LLC's and for corporate entity.
  • Manage extremely complex REO and short sale transactions, coordinating sellers, buyers, and lenders in order to complete them.
  • Create ad campaigns via Google ad-words and Facebook.
  • Determine whether title transfers are assessable for taxation.
  • Learn all phases of real estate ethics, practice and procedures.
  • Review and analyze corporate leases, securities offerings, and secure transactions.
  • Show more

Loan originator vs real estate agent skills

Common loan originator skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Origination, 9%
  • FHA, 6%
  • Va, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%
Common real estate agent skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Real Estate License, 11%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 10%
  • Real Estate Market, 10%
  • Open Houses, 7%
  • Develop Marketing Materials, 6%

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