Sec. 180.153. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PRACTICES. An individual or other person subject to regulation under this chapter may not:

(1) employ, directly or indirectly, a scheme, device, or artifice to defraud or mislead borrowers or lenders or to defraud a person;

(2) engage in an unfair or deceptive practice toward a person;

(3) obtain property by fraud or misrepresentation;

(4) solicit or enter into a contract with a borrower that provides in substance that the individual or other person subject to this chapter may earn a fee or commission through "best efforts" to obtain a loan even though no loan was actually obtained for the borrower;

(5) solicit, advertise, or enter into a contract for specific interest rates, points, or other financing terms unless the terms are actually available at the time of soliciting, advertising, or contracting;

(6) conduct any business regulated by this chapter without holding a license as required by this chapter;

(7) assist, aid, or abet an individual in the conduct of business without a license required by this chapter;

(8) fail to make disclosures as required by this chapter and any other applicable state or federal law, including rules or regulations under applicable state or federal law;

(9) fail to comply with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;

(10) fail to comply with any other state or federal law, including rules or regulations adopted under that law, applicable to a business or activity regulated by this chapter;

(11) make, in any manner, a false or deceptive statement or representation;

(12) negligently make a false statement or knowingly or wilfully make an omission of material fact in connection with:

(A) information or a report filed with a governmental agency or the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry; or

(B) an investigation conducted by the regulatory official or another governmental agency;

(13) make a payment, threat, or promise, directly or indirectly, to a person for purposes of influencing the person's independent judgment in connection with a residential mortgage loan, or make a payment, threat, or promise, directly or indirectly, to an appraiser of property, for purposes of influencing the appraiser's independent judgment with respect to the property's value;

(14) collect, charge, attempt to collect or charge, or use or propose an agreement purporting to collect or charge a fee prohibited by this chapter;

(15) cause or require a borrower to obtain property insurance coverage in an amount that exceeds the replacement cost of the improvements as established by the property insurer; or

(16) fail to truthfully account for money belonging to a party to a residential mortgage loan transaction.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1104 (H.B. 10), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.