Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a home loan? From application to foreclosure—and everything in between—this course pulls back the curtain on the modern U.S. mortgage industry.

This comprehensive course demystifies the U.S. residential mortgage industry by walking learners through the full lifecycle of a home loan—from origination to securitization. The course has been updated with fresh data, real-life examples, and today’s lending practices to match how the mortgage world works now.

You'll dive into essential topics like loan types, mortgage math, credit and risk assessment, regulatory frameworks, foreclosure strategies, securitization, and the servicing process. Unlike other courses, this program emphasizes a real-world, data-driven perspective and mirrors today’s mortgage lending environment.

By the end, you’ll gain not just theory, but the analytical tools and regulatory understanding needed to thrive in the ever-evolving mortgage finance space.

This course outline follows microlearning best practices. Each video lesson is limited to 7–10 minutes for optimal learner retention and engagement. Longer lessons from the original course have been split into smaller, focused parts.

Module 1: Foundations of U.S. Residential Mortgage Business

Course Welcome
Industry Overview – Part 1: History & Scope
Industry Overview – Part 2: Business Process
Residential Property Types
Mortgage Ecosystem Players
Loan Types – Part 1: Fixed vs Adjustable
ARM Mechanics – Margins, Indexes & Rate Caps
Loan Types – Part 2: FHA, VA & Others
Loan Types – Part 3: Conforming vs Non-Conforming

Module 2: Terms, Math & Risk Fundamentals

Terms & Conditions – Part 1: Common Clauses
Terms & Conditions – Part 2: Prepayment, Default
Mortgage Math – Part 1: Basic Concepts
Mortgage Math – Part 2: Payment Calculations
Mortgage Math – Part 3: Amortization
Loan Features – Part 1: Assumable & Convertible Mortgages
Loan Features – Part 2: Construction, Interest-Only & Balloon Loans
Understanding Balloon Mortgages
Second Mortgages, HELOCs & Lien Positioning
Subordination Clauses & Lien Exceptions
Risk & Rewards – Part 1: Borrower Risks
Risk & Rewards – Part 2: Lender Risks
Consumer Mortgage Lifecycle
Lender Mortgage Lifecycle
Reverse Mortgages – Structure, Eligibility & Risks

Module 3: Regulation, Distress & Market Landscape

Regulations – Part 1: Federal Oversight
Regulations – Part 2: State & Local Compliance
Foreclosure Avoidance Strategies – Part 1
Foreclosure Avoidance Strategies – Part 2
Market Size and Structure – Part 1
Market Size and Structure – Part 2
Special Mortgage Scenarios & Borrower Personas
Refinancing Use Cases – Rate-Term vs. Cash-Out

Module 4: Mortgage Analysis & Appraisal Techniques

Intro to Mortgage Analysis
Borrower Analysis – Part 1: Income
Borrower Analysis – Part 2: Financial Ratios
Credit Report Overview
Credit Report Interpretation
Decisioning Metrics – Part 1: LTV, DTI
Decisioning Metrics – Part 2: Combined Risk Factors
Risk Layering in Underwriting Decisions
Construction & Custom Property Appraisals
Appraisal Walkthrough – Part 1: Process
Appraisal Walkthrough – Part 2: Sample Report
Title and Insurance Fundamentals

Module 5: Servicing, Securitization & Wrap-upLesson Title

Loan Servicing – Part 1: Payment Collection
Loan Servicing – Part 2: Escrow & Monitoring
Intro to Securitization
Securitization – Part 1: Issuer View
Securitization – Part 2: Investor View
Mortgage-Backed Securities Lifecycle
MBS Ratings Overview
Capstone: Mortgage Case Simulation