§ 3-4 — Office and staff within the State

(a) A licensee whose principal place of business is located in the State of Illinois shall maintain at least one full service office with staff reasonably adequate to handle efficiently communications, questions, and all other matters relating to any application for a home mortgage or an existing home mortgage with respect to which such licensee is performing services, regardless of kind, for any borrower or lender, note owner or holder, or for himself or herself while engaged in the residential mortgage business. Offices shall not be located in any real estate, retail, or financial business establishment, unless separated from the other business by a separate and distinct area within the establishment. The location and operation of a full service office shall be in compliance with any applicable zoning laws or ordinances and home office or business regulations. The Director may require a licensee operating from a home or residentially zoned office to provide another approved location that is suitable to conduct an examination under Sections 4-2 and 4-7 of the Act. This subsection (a) does not limit the Director's authority to examine at any other office, facility or location of the licensee as permitted by the Act. (b) In lieu of maintaining a full service office in the State of Illinois, and subject to the rules of the Department, a licensee whose principal place of business is located outside the State of Illinois may comply with all of the following requirements: (1) provide, upon the Director's request and notice, an approved location that is suitable to conduct an examination under Sections 4-2 and 4-7 of the Act. This subsection (b) does not limit the Director's authority to examine at any other office, facility or location of the licensee as permitted by the Act. (2) submit a certified audit as required in Section 3-2 of this Act evidencing a minimum net worth of $150,000, which must be maintained at all times, and shall submit and maintain a fidelity bond in the amount of $100,000.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 96-112, eff. 7-31-09.)