How to verify a real estate license in Mississippi

Real estate agents and brokers

The Mississippi Real Estate Commission licenses brokers and salespersons under Title 73, Chapter 35 of the Mississippi Code. The Commission may refuse, suspend or revoke a license for misrepresentation, false promises, commingling client money, a felony conviction, or “bad faith, incompetency or untrustworthiness,” and it must hold a hearing on the verified written complaint of any person (§ 73-35-21).

The Commission’s website, mrec.ms.gov, returned a server error every time I tried it today, so I could not confirm the lookup page or read it. Go to the site, use its license search, and check the name, license type, status and the broker the salesperson works under.

Mortgage loan originators (NMLS)

The Mississippi S.A.F.E. Mortgage Act (Miss. Code § 81-18-1 et seq.) makes the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance responsible for licensing mortgage brokers, lenders, servicers and mortgage loan originators. The Department says all mortgage licensing is handled through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) and links to NMLS Consumer Access for the public search. That site refused my automated request (HTTP 403), so I could not read it. Look up the loan officer’s name and NMLS number, and confirm the company is licensed in Mississippi. The Department’s phone is 601-321-6901.

Home inspectors

The Home Inspector Licensing and Regulation Act (§ 73-60-1 et seq.) is administered by the Mississippi Home Inspection Division, which since July 1, 2024 operates under the Mississippi Appraisal Board. Anyone who acts as, or holds himself out as, a home inspector without a license can be fined up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for later ones (§ 73-60-27). Use the Division’s “Find Home Inspector” search, which lets you filter by license number, status (Active, Inactive, Closed and others), name, city or county.

For a newly built home, look for the NH (New Home) designation. The Division says it requires holding or qualifying for a Mississippi residential builder’s license plus an approved code certification. See home inspection cost.

Appraisers (state board and national registry)

The Mississippi Appraisal Board’s “Find an Appraiser” search lists appraisers and appraisal management companies. Credentials include trainee, licensed, certified residential and certified general. Then cross-check the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) National Registry, which lists appraisers authorized by a state to perform appraisals in federally related transactions. ASC warns that state agencies report at least monthly and that it has not independently verified what states submit, so the state board is the more current source. See home appraisal cost.

Land surveyors

The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors keeps a “Search Licensees” page for professional surveyors, surveyor interns and surveying firms. Ask your surveyor for the license number first. See land survey cost.

The five professions at a glance

What to do if a license is expired or suspended

Do not sign anything until the status is resolved. Expired, inactive or closed statuses show on the searches above; the home inspector search lists these as separate statuses. Ask the professional for proof of renewal, or hire someone else. The boards also post discipline: the Appraisal Board and Home Inspection Division publish disciplinary pages, and the Engineers and Surveyors board has a complaint process. For a mortgage company, the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance has a consumer complaint section. Questions about Jackson professionals follow the same rules.