What are my options? Well, first of all, my state has a form that you can fill out and request an extension for your license. The most common reason that states ask for extensions is because someone was working in another state while getting licensed in your state. For example, someone who has moved into Florida and wants to be a real estate agent in North Florida needs to get their license there in order to do business in North Florida. They’ll need to extend your license there, just as they would for someone who has moved into New York and wants to sell real estate in New York.
If you’ve recently moved (even if only a few miles) and your license is still active in your state, you have a lot of other options. First of all, you can ask the court that issued your license to either extend your real estate license there, or to give you a temporary one to see how it goes. If they grant your request, your license will be in effect while you go to work, but will lapse after about a month. If it’s granted, you will get your full real estate license upon your next official visit.
Another option is to pay someone to do the investigation so that you don’t have to. Typically, it’s the county clerk who do this kind of investigation, but you could also hire a private investigator to find out why your license has expired and what, if anything, you can do about it. It’s up to you.
You may have also heard that you can “attempt to renew your license” in Florida, and that is true. What are your options here? There are many things you can do to try to renew your real estate license in Florida. If you’re really interested in renewing your license, it’s not a bad idea to consult with a lawyer who specializes in real estate law. He or she can tell you what you can do in the way of a “practice extension” in Florida, and even help you prepare the needed forms.
You can file for an actual renewal on your license. Once you get your current license, you can reapply for it. You’ll likely need to pay a fee for this, but the fee is minimal and often worth it. If you’re still interested, you may also be able to get extensions on your initial licenses. The real estate board will look at all of your extensions as closely as they look at your original license and will consider them to determine if you still meet all of their requirements for a real estate license.
In some cases, a “reinstatement” of your license may be possible. A reinstatement of your license allows you to start again. However, if your real estate investment business was temporarily shut down in Florida due to non-payment of taxes or other licensing fees, you’ll likely not be able to reinstate your license.
With all of the options available, what is your? Do you need to see a real estate attorney? Don’t worry; the state of Florida specifically outlines what you can and cannot do when your real estate license expires. You can check with your local government (in Florida, the Department of Financial Services is the government agency that will help you), or you can do some research online.
