Course Offerings
Success in mortgage lending starts with a high-performing team.
Arch MI trains mortgage professionals to compete in today’s fast-paced lending environment. Our Customer Training Program is a best-in-class educational curriculum teaching the key skills, techniques and best practices needed to build your team’s confidence and grow your share of originations.
Arch MI offers a mix of live and on-demand webinars and customized on-site training.
Our featured live webinars focus on timely subjects, usually tied to recent regulatory changes, real-time events or current needs — like how to navigate virtual meetings. Live webinars are valuable because they happen at a scheduled time and are a fun way to interact virtually with an expert trainer who engages participants and fields questions. We also offer a selection of on-demand webinars, also up-to-date, but that can be watched at your convenience. If you have a group for in-person, on-site training, we can provide that, too.
To request on-site training, please contact your Arch MI Account Manager.
Training Course Catalog
Learn more about all of the training courses Arch MI has to offer!
Available Courses
Select a course category below to see what topics are offered under each and how to access:
Mortgage Insurance Courses
An Overview of MI
A Path to Homeownership
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
Learn about Mortgage Insurance (MI): What it is, how it works, why it provides value to lenders, investors, borrowers and how it helps build a path to homeownership!
Available formats: On-Demand Video
Appraisal Courses
Analyzing Appraisals for Single Family Residences
Identifying the Key Areas of the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report
Audience: Loan Processors and Underwriters
Identifies the key areas to focus on in the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report. In reviewing each section, you will develop a broader understanding of the appraisal and the Sales Comparison Approach.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video, On-Site Training (Contact your Arch MI Account Manager)
Business Development Courses
Communicating Competitive Advantages
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
Competitive advantages are the reasons people do business with you that go beyond low rates and fees, but how do you describe things like excellent service and trust without sounding like everyone else? Learn the two things customers need to trust to do business with you, what bothers borrowers and Realtors the most about the loan process, and how to separate yourself and sound different from the competition.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Five Steps to Better Goal Setting and Planning
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
General Dwight Eisenhower said, “Plans are nothing. Planning is everything.” While many things can affect a plan (COVID-19, anyone?), the act of planning is where the value is. Learn the five-step GRASS method, three common mistakes to avoid and the most important (and sometimes the most difficult) thing your plan should include.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Habits of High Achievers
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
Success leaves clues. Not surprisingly, many of the traits shared by high-achievers are common-sense in theory, but not necessarily common practice (otherwise, everyone would be a high-achiever, right?). Discover, the keys to having your best year ever, the most important (yet often missing) part of the formula for success, and disciplines you often don’t think about.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Journey to Success in Business and Life
Strategies for Achievement Learned on a 500-Mile Trek Across Spain
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
This unique professional development opportunity provides insights on how to grow and expand your skills to achieve more happiness and success at home and work. Arch MI’s accredited public speaker and industry expert, Blaine Rada, will share his story of personal challenge and valuable lessons gained during his month-long trek across Spain, unplugged from modern life, technology and the nine-to-five routine. This stimulating presentation will get you thinking through the next steps to your best year yet.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Seizing Market Share
Creating Separation Between You and Your Competitors
Audience: Loan Originators, Managers and Marketing Staff
Learn how to differentiate yourself from the competition and gain market share by becoming the best choice for mortgages among borrowers and Realtors®. Enhance your reputation by aligning your market, message and media. Discover untapped markets for additional business, understand the importance of content marketing, know what your borrowers value in a lender, create unique competitive advantages and examine a framework for selecting Realtor partners.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
(SMART)² Communicating
10 Keys to More Effective Presentation Skills
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
Whether you communicate in-person or online, with spoken words or written words, delivering a clear and compelling message is more challenging than ever. In this session, you’ll learn:
- Five Values that establish your intentions and ensure your communication is understood and acted on.
- Five Verbs that are the specific skills to make you a more effective communicator.
- Three keys to becoming a better listener.
Available formats: Webinar (Contact your Account Manager), On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Ten Tips That Turn the Tide in Your Favor
Ideas for Success in a Changing Market
Audience: Loan Originators and Mortgage Management Professionals
Whether you’ve been in the business for decades or have just taken on a new role, you’ll benefit from 10 tips for communicating effectively with mortgage referral partners to gain a regular stream of business.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Income Analysis
AMITRAC Overview
The Arch MI Tax Return Analysis Calculator
Audience: Loan Originators, Processors and Underwriters
The AMITRAC (Arch MI Tax Return Analysis Calculator) is an interactive and intuitive spreadsheet that follows the SAM method of tax return analysis. Learn how to navigate the AMITRAC in this short webinar
Available formats: On-Demand Video
Business Tax Returns 101
An Introduction to Business Tax Structures, Forms and Cash Flow
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Underwriters
In this course, we will introduce the various business structures, the tax forms used to report business income and demonstrate how income flows from business to personal tax returns.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Business Tax Returns 201
The Basics of Self-Employed Borrower Income Calculation
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Underwriters
In this course, we will dive into the fundamentals of self-employed borrower income calculation, including allowable add-backs and required deductions. We will also review the principles of profit and loss statement requirements, net operating loss carryover considerations and person debts paid by the business.
Suggested Prerequisite: Business Tax Returns 101
Available formats: Webinar, On–Demand Video
Business Tax Returns 301
Unique Considerations for Sole Proprietorships and Corporations
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Underwriters
In this course, we will focus on the unique considerations of Sole Proprietorships and Corporations. We’ll break down mileage depreciation, and how to know if you can include an additional add-back (Schedule C), and review the different requirements for utilizing Corporate cash flow.
Suggested Prerequisite: Business Tax Returns 201
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Business Tax Returns 302
Unique Considerations for Partnerships and S Corporations
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Underwriters
Confused about K-1s? Want to gain a better understanding of earnings, distributions and liquidity analysis? This is the course for you! During this session, we will break down K-1s for both Partnerships and S Corporations and demonstrate how to calculate qualifying income.
Suggested Prerequisite: Business Tax Returns 201
Available formats: Webinar, On–Demand Video
Clarify the Confusion
Understanding Self-Employed Borrowers and Business Tax Returns
Audience: Loan Originators, Sr. Processors and Underwriters
Enhance your understanding of self-employed borrowers and develop an understanding of the components of business tax returns. Allowable add-backs and required deductions will be discussed, and we’ll demonstrate how to calculate income from various business structures, introducing you to the Arch MI Tax Return Analysis Calculator (AMITRAC), the industry’s most user-friendly Schedule Analysis form.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Explore the Essentials
Reviewing and Understanding the Basics of Tax Returns
Audience: Loan Originators, Jr. Processors and Underwriters
Learn about the various tax returns and forms in this introductory class. Various income sources, from Social Security to interest income and capital gains, will be discussed as well as income trending and non-taxable income. You’ll also review business tax returns and learn the differences between the business structures.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
“I” is for Income
The Basics of Qualifying Income
Audience: Loan Processors and Junior Underwriters
Correctly calculating income is fundamental to insuring a member qualifies for a loan. In this mini-workshop we will discuss the basics of income calculation, including base, bonus, overtime and commission. Bring your calculator and be ready to practice what you learn.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Income Fundamentals 101
The First Step in Understanding Acceptable Qualifying Income
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Jr. Underwriters
In this first Back to Basics course, we review acceptable income for mortgage qualification, including employment and non-employment sources. We will also discuss income continuance (when support documentation is required) and taxable vs. non-taxable income.
Contact your Account Manager for more information about this course.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Income Fundamentals 201
The Components of Paystubs and W-2s
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Jr. Underwriters
In this second course of the Back to Basics Income Fundamentals series, we review documentation requirements, explore the components of paystubs and W-2s, discuss how to determine pay cycle frequency and provide an overview of mandatory payroll deductions.
Contact your Account Manager for more information about this course.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Income Fundamentals 202
Calculating Employment Income
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors, Jr. Underwriters
In this third course of the Back to Basics Income Fundamentals series, we will apply the knowledge gained from Income Fundamentals 201 to accurately calculate qualifying income from paystubs, including base pay, overtime, bonuses and commission.
Contact your Account Manager for more information about this course.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Master the Mystery
Navigating and Evaluating Personal Tax Returns
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors and Underwriters
Learn the fundamentals of navigating through personal tax returns, including key components of the 1040 including Schedule 1, Schedule B, Schedule D and Schedule E. Discover when and why tax returns are needed, and how to recognize when tax returns are complete. Understand income trending and be introduced to the Arch MI Tax Return Analysis Calculator (AMITRAC).
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Mortgage Skills
Conquer the Components
Understanding the Aspects of a Loan File
Audience: Loan Processors, Loan Processors and Jr. Underwriters
Get an overview of The Three Cs of mortgage banking including income/employment, assets/reserves and ratios. Understand the factors that make up a credit score, and the fundamentals of mortgage risk.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Essentials of Mortgage Lending (1 or 2-Day Course)
Understanding the Fundamentals of Home Loans
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors and Underwriters
1-Day Course:
This one-day hands-on fundamentals course delivers information that you can use to be a successful mortgage industry team member. Modules focus on the Three Cs of mortgage lending, including credit, income, assets and collateral. New to the industry? Need a refresher? This course will help you strengthen your mortgage skills and knowledge.
2-Day Course:
This two-day course, designed with industry newcomers in mind, provides an overview of mortgage lending from A to Z. Modules range from industry terminology and property types, to the basics of understanding credit, income, the loan application and more! Let us help you build, strengthen and educate your team.
Please note: There is a nominal fee for this course. Contact your Arch MI Account Manager for details.
Available formats: On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)
Fannie Mae HomeReady
The Key Points
Audience: Loan Originators and Marketing Staff
Expand your market of borrowers by learning the key points and unique features of the Fannie Mae HomeReady® Program. An alternative to FHA financing, HomeReady is designed for creditworthy, low-to moderate income borrowers and includes expanded eligibility for financing homes in designated low-income, minority and disaster-impacted communities.
Available formats: On-Demand Video
Loan Processing Using the URLA/Form 1003
Making the Loan Application Process Easier
Audience: Loan Originators and Loan Processors
Learn how to use the redesigned Uniform Residential Loan Application or URLA (also known as Fannie Mae Form 1003 and Freddie Mac Form 65), to process your loan application. Understand what documents to gather, how to review and verify required documentation, and prepare the loan application for underwriting. Use Arch MI resources to assist you in your loan processing review.
Available formats: Webinar, On-Demand Video
Mortgage Fraud
Do Your Diligence
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors and Underwriters
Understand the impact of mortgage fraud, how to spot it and how to prevent it. Mortgage fraud has been around a long time and it continues to be one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. With this course, acquire an increased awareness of the sources of fraud, learn ways to prevent fraudulent mortgage loans and discover how to effectively identify “Red Flags”.
Available formats: Featured Webinar, On-Demand Video
Navigating the New URLA
Overview and Highlights
Audience: Mortgage Professionals
Learn how to navigate the new Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), also known as the Fannie Mae Form 1003 and Freddie Mac Form 65. This session will provide an overview of this new industry-standard loan application, review its components and highlight key features and differences between it and the loan application used before it. You will also be pointed to helpful resources that you can utilize.
Contact your Account Manager for more information about this course.
Available formats: On–Demand Video
Trended Credit Data
An Overview
Audience: Loan Originators, Loan Processors and Underwriters
What is Trended Credit Data? In less than 10 minutes, we will define it, discuss Desktop Underwriter® as it relates to trended credit data and talk about the impact that trended credit data will have on Arch MI-insured loans.
Available formats: On–Demand Video
What Starts Well, Ends Well
12 Steps to Ensure a Smooth Transaction
Audience: Loan Originators
Learn simple techniques you can use to set loans up for success. From setting realistic expectations, to understanding what drives borrower satisfaction, you’ll discover how to invest your time and effort for maximum return. As an added bonus, you’ll learn how to overcome common loan challenges and a formula for getting exceptions approved.
Available formats: On-Demand Video, On-Site Training (Contact your Account Manager)