Larson Educational Services is the premier education provider in SW Florida. We are a Real Estate, CAM and Mortgage Loan Originator School. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples and Online.
Applicants for the Florida Mortgage Loan Originator License must complete these steps:
Obtain Unique ID number from NMLS - no cost
Complete the 20 Hour SAFE Comprehensive Course - $329
Pass the SAFE Act Test
National Test - $110
Submit License Application
Application Fee - $195
Mortgage Guaranty Trust Fund Fee - $20
NMLS Processing Fee - $30
Credit Report - $15
FBI Criminal Background Check - $36.25
Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement Background Check - $33
How much does it cost to get a Florida Mortgage Loan Originator License?
$768.25
Step-by-Step Licensing Guide
Step 1: Obtain your Unique Identification Number with NMLS
Creating an account with NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System) only takes a few minutes. After creating your account, NMLS will notify you by email with your Unique Identification Number. Click below to do this now. Please bring this number with you to class so we can provide you with completion credit.
Step 2: Complete the 20 Hour Florida SAFE Comprehensive Course
The 20 Hour Florida SAFE Comprehensive Course is the required pre-licensing education for Mortgage Loan Originators as mandated by the 2008 SAFE Act. Classes are available in Fort Myers and Naples. Click below to view our course information. *Please bring your NMLS ID number with you to class so we can provide you with completion credit.*
You are required to take and pass the SAFE Act National Test with Uniform State Test (UST). Our recommendation is to take the test within 10 after you've completed the 20 hour pre-licensing course. A score of 75% or better is required to pass the SAFE Act test.
TEST ENROLLMENT: First you must create a TEST ENROLLMENT on the NMLS website. You will pay a $110 fee for the National Test with Uniform State Test (UST) upon the enrollment. Creating the enrollment is what will give you permission to schedule the test.
SCHEDULE YOUR TESTS: **You must pay for the tests in the step above BEFORE you can schedule a test date.** The tests are given by Prometric Testing Centers, and they have centers located throughout the state of Florida and across the country. In Southwest Florida, the nearest facility is located at 2891 Center Pointe Drive Suite 201 - Fort Myers, FL 33916.
Do you already have your MLO license in another state and just need to attend the 2 Hour Florida Specific Course?
View our 2 Hour Florida Specific Course schedule.
Step 4: Application
*Complete after you've attended the 20 Hour Florida SAFE Comprehensive Course and passed the National exam*
SUBMIT THE MU4 APPLICATION: Loan Originator applicants must submit the "Uniform Individual Mortgage License/Registration & Consent Form," also known as the MU4 APPLICATION on the NMLS website.
FEES: You must pay a $195 nonrefundable application fee, a $20 nonrefundable Mortgage Guaranty Trust Fund fee and a $60 NMLS processing fee when you apply.
CREDIT REPORT: You are required to authorize a credit report with the submission of your MU4 Application. The cost of the credit report is $15.
FINGERPRINTS and CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK: You are required to have your fingerprints scanned electronically at an NMLS-authorized fingerprint vendor for an FBI Criminal Background Check (CBC) with the submission of your MU4 Application. The cost of the CBC is $36.25.
If you are obtaining your MLO License in Florida, you must also have your fingerprints scanned electronically at a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) location. We recommend using PearsonVUE. The cost of the FDLE fingerprint is $33.
You may make an FDLE fingerprint reservation by calling PearsonVUE at 1.877.238.8232.
Step 5: View your Application Status
Criminal Background Check Status
During your license approval process, you can view the status of an existing Criminal Background Check (CBC) request or retrieve a copy of your CBC Certificate.
You may view the status of your MU4 Application and review any deficiencies that your state regulator has set. A deficiency is placed by the state regulator to notify you of any missing information that is still required in order to issue a licensing decision.
Each time the status is updated by the Regulator in NMLS, you will receive a system generated email indicating the status change.
Christmas is technically over, but you know what that means?
IT'S LEFTOVER SEASON, BABY! 🎅🍗🍾🍬
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
We protect and serve the Southwest Florida community by keeping real estate agents off the streets every day.
You're welcome.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
As a new agent, if you want to reach these many potential clients online, you need to optimize your website to get the most traffic you can.
Follow these steps to improve your SEO.
1. Utilize local keyword phrases
Most home buyers start their research with local keyword phrases like "Fort Myers real estate."
Although over time you may expand your business to include multiple regions, when you build your website at the start of your career, you’ll want to focus on a single area.
Once you’ve established yourself as a market expert in the first area, you can then expand to target other surrounding areas.
To optimize your website, blog, and articles you should choose search phrases like the following:
Fort Myers real estate
Fort myers realtor
Fort Myers real estate agent
Fort Myers homes for sale
The more targeted and specific your website can be, the better.
As a new agent your goal is to capture local internet traffic, not traffic from all over the state or region.
At the start, avoid key phrases such as “Florida real state agent,” since you’ll be too small to compete for that kind of keyword.
Although you may list dozens or even hundreds of listings at a time, you will certainly have a select few properties that you really want to sell.
Writing a blog post about one of those properties could do wonders for securing more prospects.
For this kind of blog post, the optimized keyword would be the property’s address. Be sure to include the address in the following places:
The meta descriptions
The file names of the photos
The alt tags on the photos (which you can usually edit once you have uploaded the photo into your blog/website)
URL
Title
Create about 200-350 words of unique writing that describes the home features using the best practices for home listings along with the standard description.
Note: for other blog posts not targeted for a specific property, there is no perfect number of words. However, longer content tends to be more helpful for users, and will therefore be rewarded more in Google’s search rankings.
You will also want to get as many backlinks from trusted websites as you can.
3. Off page SEO
You can establish authority in Google’s algorithm by submitting your website and business info to directories such as the Better Business Bureau, Yellowbook.com, Local.com, YP.com, and more.
Also, be sure to claim your business on Google (don’t forget about Yahoo and Bing, which both receive more traffic than most people realize).
By claiming your business, Google will see you as a trusted website, meaning they’ll put your site in front of more potential clients.
Get on the following sites:
Trulia
Zillow
Redfin.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest (with images of your listings)
Youtube (with video tours of listings, which can be huge for gaining traffic)
Instagram (with quality images of homes)
Your website doesn't have to be perfect: the main point is getting started. Creating quality content consistently is the best and most efficient way to be found.
Perhaps you don’t have any skills with video creation but you enjoy writing—then write incredible content. Maybe you have excellent photos—utilize them. Anything you can do to create valuable content will help you sell homes.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
This time we're moving to the solar system's home star: the SUN!
Or, well...actually we already have classes in Florida, so I think we're good.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
To learn more about LarsonEd's Florida real estate and Florida insurance courses, visit LarsonEd.com or give us a call at 239-344-7510.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
They also came of age under the shadow of America’s greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression, which leads many of them to be apprehensive to invest in the stock market.
These dynamics create a unique demographic of people who may have a steady income they don’t yet know how to utilize.
This makes a wonderful opportunity for both clients and agents to provide them with life insurance services.
First, it’s good to understand the millennial mindset.
Different priorities
For some previous generations, starting life meant starting a career at the bottom of a ladder and working there until retirement, finding a spouse early, and having kids in their early 20s.
In general, millennials aren’t following this life formula.
Of course the housing market is out of millennials' control, but when and if they start a family is largely a choice they are making.
Because they don’t have dependents or a mortgage, and they do have a mountain of debt, they may not see the need for life insurance.
The first step is to let them know that life insurance is not nearly as expensive as they may assume.
They may not see the value in getting coverage to support a spouse and children they do not yet have.
Three ways to help ease this opposition:
Instill the importance of starting early
Emphasize the relative affordability of life insurance
Contradict misinformation about life insurance
Starting early
Let hesitant millennials know that life insurance doesn’t just cover funeral expenses, but it can help cover so much more, such as lost income, debt, and an inheritance.
And remind them that their rates are lowest if they start their policy young.
Inform potential millennial clients that life insurance policies are very unique to each policy holder. If, for example, they're thinking they don’t have the same financial needs as their parents (and therefore don't need a policy) they can absolutely get a different plan.
If they are one of many new millennial entrepreneurs, perhaps they could use a life insurance policy to protect their new company.
Digital services
Millennials expect and need online tools to help them find quotes for policies and an ability to enroll online.
By providing these tools and understanding millennials' viewpoints, you will be more able to provide a policy that fits their needs.
For more information or to sign up for health and life insurance education, visit our website, LarsonEd.com, or give us a call at 239-344-7510.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
To learn more about LarsonEd's Florida real estate and Florida insurance courses, visit LarsonEd.com or give us a call at 239-344-7510.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
Many people who are uninsured do not realize the tax benefits that come with a life insurance policy.
The importance of these benefits cannot be overstated.
They can help alleviate the tax burden your clients and their family will feel in retirement.
Understanding your clients' fears can help you understand their perspective, especially if their fears keep them (or have kept them) from buying a life insurance policy.
For example, most people are afraid of running out of money during retirement.
In fact, they often list this as their top retirement concern.
You can put their fears at ease by informing them about the possibility to access life insurance money on a tax-free basis in retirement.
This benefit is especially important for high net worth clients, they may be getting taxed at high rates to access other money, such as traditional IRAs.
Death benefits
Death benefits are often paid to beneficiaries tax-free, decreasing the tax burden on loved ones.
However, if those benefits are received as an annuity they may be taxable. Likewise, the interest accrued on a policy is potentially taxable.
Let your apprehensive clients know that some types of life insurance (for example, whole life policies) may pay dividends, yet they are not taxed like regular capital gains.
Instead, those dividends are considered a return on part of a premium paid. Therefore, they're not taxed unless the amount of the dividend exceeds the premiums paid.
If you succeed in highlighting these tax benefits for apprehensive clients (or prospects), you'll be more likely to assuage their fears about one of the most stress-inducing prospects of someone's life: their passing.
For more information or to sign up for health and life insurance education, visit our website, LarsonEd.com, or give us a call at 239-344-7510.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
To learn more about LarsonEd's Florida real estate and Florida insurance courses, visit LarsonEd.com or give us a call at 239-344-7510.
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
That's right! We realized that above ground classes are too mainstream, so we're going underground.
Check for our Journey to the Center of the Earth 101 class coming in 2018!
About Larson Educational Services:
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
And as a real estate professional, many of your clients and prospects may come to you through word-of-mouth referrals.
If you’re constantly prospecting like you should be, you’ll be interacting with strangers on a regular basis.
Although it’s unlikely that any of these stranger interactions will put you into danger, you still have to prepare yourself against the worst.
6. Have an escape route
You know how the flight attendants tell you before takeoff to look around for the nearest exit in case of an emergency (keeping in mind that it may be behind you)?
Practice the same procedure when doing a house showing--know beforehand what the exit and entry points of the property are, just in case you get uncomfortable with a particular client.
It's also a good practice to keep all of the doors unlocked during a showing.
7. Self defense
It's becoming more common for real estate agents to learn self defense as a best practice when preparing to show homes.
There is nothing to lose from taking a self-defense course--you'll feel safer not only at work as a real estate agent, but also in everyday life.
8. Make yourself identifiable
Wear your brokerage or Realtor ID badge and keep your car clearly marked with your company's name.
If you find yourself needing assistance, you will be best served by making yourself easy to identify--you can tell somebody that you have a large name tag and you are driving a car with your company name on it, both of which combined could describe only you.
9. Follow the leader
Have your prospect walk in front of you when you enter and tour the home. This way they have less of a physical advantage if they were to attempt to corner you in the home somehow.
You can gesture them in certain directions with simple points and verbal cues, such as, "the guest bedroom is on your right down this hall."
10. Trust your instincts
If a prospect is giving you a fishy vibe, there is nothing wrong with prematurely ending a showing.
You don't have to tell them explicitly that's what you're doing, as this could lead to defensive behavior from the prospect.
Simply say that that something urgent has come up at the office and you must get back immediately.
This not only allows you to step away from the interaction, but it also creates an excuse to be on your phone looking for police assistance (when you are ostensibly messaging the office about the fake urgent event that's pulling you away from the prospect).
Apologize as needed and tell them that someone else from the office will be in touch about rescheduling (which is not necessary to follow through on if the prospect crossed a social or professional boundary).
All in all, remember that it is your right and obligation to yourself to prioritize your safety. No potential sale is worth risking your well-being. If you feel uneasy with a client, step away as you feel appropriate.
Utilizing 40 years of real estate training and professional education experience, Florida real estate school Larson Educational Services is the premier provider of Florida real estate licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, CAM licensing, mortgage loan originator licensing, and continuing education in Southwest Florida. Classes are available in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, and online. We are an approved Florida Real Estate School (License #ZH1002299), Florida CAM School (License #PRE31), Florida Insurance School (License # 370501) and NMLS Approved Course Provider.
