2. How the Partnership Works

The RPA broker partnership is straightforward. You refer clients who need commercial financing; RPA originates the loan and connects them with qualified funders from its national network. When the loan funds, RPA pays you a referral commission based on the origination fee collected at closing.

RPA is a loan origination firm, not a direct lender. We do not compete with your real estate brokerage business. Our role is limited to the financing side of the transaction. We work alongside you to ensure your clients are funded efficiently and professionally.

2.1 The Referral Process at a Glance

2.2 What RPA Commercial Loans Handles

• Application intake and initial borrower qualification review
• Document collection and file preparation
• Lender matching and submission to the RPA funder network
• Term sheet presentation and borrower negotiation support
• Closing coordination with escrow, title, and the lender
• Commission calculation and disbursement

2.3 What You Handle

• Identifying clients with commercial financing needs
• Introducing your client to RPA and helping them get started
• Providing your unique referral link or submitting a referral through the portal
• Staying informed through your Broker Dashboard on deal progress

3. Registering as a Broker

To join the RPA Broker Partner Program, you must complete the registration process and be approved by RPA. Registration is free and can be completed entirely online.

3.1 Eligibility Requirements

• You must hold a valid, active real estate broker or salesperson license in at least one U.S. state.
• You must be in good standing with your state licensing board (no suspensions or disciplinary actions).
• You must not be licensed as a mortgage broker or loan originator in the state where you intend to refer loans (to avoid potential regulatory conflicts).

3.2 Registration Steps

3.3 W-9 Requirement

Because RPA will pay you commissions, we are required to collect a W-9 form for tax reporting purposes. The W-9 collection is integrated into the registration process and will be completed as part of your digital onboarding. RPA will issue a Form 1099-NEC at the end of each tax year for any commissions totaling $600 or more.

4. Your Broker Portal

Once approved, you will have access to the Broker Portal, your central hub for managing referrals, tracking deal status, and monitoring your commission pipeline. Log in at www.rpacommercialloans.com using the email address you registered with.

4.1 Broker Dashboard

Your Broker Dashboard displays a summary of all loans you have referred, organized by status. At a glance, you can see how many of your referrals are in each stage of the pipeline, your total funded loan volume, and your pending and paid commissions.

4.2 Referral Tracking

Every loan referred through your unique referral code or submitted directly through your portal is linked to your broker account. You can view the application status in real time, though detailed borrower information is visible only to authorized RPA staff in accordance with privacy regulations.

4.3 Your Referral Link

Your Broker Portal contains a unique referral link that you can share with clients, post on your website, or include in your email signature. When a prospective borrower clicks your link and submits an application, it is automatically attributed to your account. You can find this link under "Referral Link" in your portal navigation.

4.4 Notifications

You will receive automated email notifications when a referred loan reaches key milestones: application submitted, documents complete, submitted to funders, term sheets received, and loan funded. These notifications allow you to stay informed and follow up with your client appropriately.

5. Submitting Client Referrals

There are two ways to refer a client to RPA: by sharing your referral link with them directly, or by submitting a referral on their behalf through your Broker Portal.

5.1 Method A, Share Your Referral Link

The simplest method is to send your client your personalized referral link. They click the link, complete the Quick Application themselves, and the loan is automatically attributed to you. This works well when your client is comfortable completing the form on their own.

5.2 Method B, Submit a Referral Through the Portal

If your client prefers a more hands-on introduction, you can submit their information directly through your portal. Log in, navigate to "My Referrals," and click "New Referral." You will be prompted for the client's name, email, phone, and a brief description of their financing need. RPA will contact the client directly and walk them through the application process.

5.3 What Makes a Good Referral

To help your clients succeed, aim to refer borrowers who:

• Have a clearly identified commercial property or financing need
• Have a credit score of 620 or higher (for most conventional programs)
• Can document their income and assets
• Are realistic about the loan amount and terms they are requesting
• Are able and willing to provide required documentation promptly

6. Commissions & Compensation

RPA pays broker partners a referral commission when a loan you referred successfully closes. Your specific commission rate is set out in your signed Broker Referral Agreement and is expressed in basis points (bps) of the loan amount.

6.1 How Commissions Are Calculated

Your commission is 12.5% of the net origination fee received by RPA at closing, which equals 25 basis points (25 bps) on RPA's standard origination fee of 2.00%. Example: on a $1,000,000 funded loan with a $20,000 origination fee, your referral commission would be $2,500. Your commission is paid from RPA's revenue, it is not an additional cost to your client.

6.2 When Commissions Are Paid

• Commissions are triggered upon loan funding and receipt of origination fee by RPA.
• Payment is issued within 10 business days of loan closing confirmation.
• Payment is made by ACH bank transfer to your account on file.

6.3 Tracking Your Commissions

Your Broker Portal includes a Commission Dashboard showing all approved, pending, and paid commissions. For each funded loan, you will see the loan amount, origination fee received, your commission rate, and the calculated commission amount. You can download statements for your records.

6.4 Commission Conditions

• Commissions are earned only when a loan successfully funds. No commission is paid if a loan falls through before closing.
• Your referral must be documented in the RPA system (through your referral link or a portal submission) before the client submits their application.
• RPA reserves the right to withhold or adjust commissions in cases of fraud, material misrepresentation, or regulatory non-compliance.

7. Compliance & Licensing

Commercial loan referral arrangements involving real estate brokers are subject to both federal and state regulations. It is critical that you understand the rules that apply to your specific situation. This section provides an overview; it is not legal advice, and you should consult with a licensed attorney if you have questions about your compliance obligations.

7.1 RESPA Considerations

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) generally prohibits the payment of referral fees in connection with federally related mortgage loans. However, RESPA's restrictions apply primarily to residential (1 to 4 family) mortgage transactions. Most commercial real estate loans are not subject to RESPA, which is why commercial referral arrangements between brokers and loan originators are generally permissible. If you have any questions about whether a specific transaction may be subject to RESPA, consult legal counsel.

7.2 State Law Requirements

Some states have their own laws governing referral fee arrangements between real estate licensees and mortgage originators. Requirements vary widely. In some states, referral fees to real estate brokers are expressly permitted for commercial transactions. In others, additional licensing or disclosures may be required. You are responsible for understanding the laws of your state before accepting referral commissions.

7.3 Disclosure to Clients

You should always disclose to your clients that you have a referral relationship with RPA and that you may earn a commission if their loan funds. Transparent disclosure protects you, your client, and your professional reputation.

7.4 Prohibited Activities

• You may not represent to clients that you are acting as their loan originator, mortgage broker, or lender.
• You may not collect fees directly from clients in connection with the loan origination process.
• You may not participate in loan underwriting decisions or have access to non-public borrower financial information beyond what is necessary for the referral.
• You may not submit applications containing false or misleading information.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

9. Glossary