How to verify a real estate license in Maine

Real estate agents and brokers

It is unlawful to engage in real estate brokerage in Maine without a current license (32 M.R.S. § 13003). An unlicensed person also cannot sue in Maine courts to collect a brokerage fee without first proving a license at the time (§ 13004).

The Real Estate Commission licenses agencies, brokers, associate brokers and sales agents. It says license verification is free through its online portal and that the state does not issue paper verifications. Search the Real Estate Commission license lookup by name or company.

Rentals, leasing and property management do not require a real estate license in Maine, according to the Commission’s consumer FAQ, so a property manager may have no license to check.

Mortgage loan originators (NMLS)

An individual who, in a commercial setting and habitually, takes a residential mortgage application and offers or negotiates terms for pay needs a Maine license. Each licensed originator must also hold a unique identifier from the nationwide mortgage licensing system (9-A M.R.S. § 13-103). The law treats a person as acting habitually after more than 3 such loans in 12 months.

Some people are exempt. They include registered originators working for a depository institution (or its federally regulated subsidiary), and a licensed attorney who negotiates loan terms as an ancillary matter for a client and is not paid by a lender. To check, ask for the originator’s NMLS number and search it in NMLS Consumer Access.

Home inspectors

The Maine office that licenses most trades lists its professions publicly. Home inspectors do not appear in that list, and Title 32 of the Maine statutes has no chapter on them. I found no state license to verify. Ask an inspector which training or association credentials they hold and request a sample report. See home inspection costs.

Appraisers

Preparing a real estate appraisal for a fee without a license is unlawful in Maine (32 M.R.S. § 14003). There is an exception: a licensed broker or associate broker may give an opinion of market value for purposes other than federally related transactions, and it must carry a bold notice that it was not prepared by a licensed or certified appraiser (§ 14004).

Look up an appraiser through the Board of Real Estate Appraisers portal, which links to its Verify a License tool. The federal Appraisal Subcommittee also keeps a national Appraiser Registry. See home appraisal costs.

Land surveyors

It is unlawful to practice or advertise land surveying without a license (32 M.R.S. § 18202). The Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors provides a Verify a License and Find a Licensee tool and a way to search licensee discipline. See land survey costs.

Summary of the five trades

What if a license is expired or suspended?

Do not hire the person for licensed work. A lookup that shows a lapsed license or a disciplinary record is a reason to ask questions or choose someone else. To report a problem with a licensed professional, use the state’s online complaint form. The Real Estate Commission accepts complaints from buyers and sellers who believe a licensee defrauded them or acted improperly, but it cannot give legal advice or settle disputes. For legal questions see do you need an attorney in Maine.