I was contacted by a company Pacific Star Financial, they wanted to do an interior at one of my short sale listings in Miami. I received a business card from the person who came out, I looked the name up on the Florida Real Estate Commission, no person with that name has a Real Estate Licesnse.
When I called the company they said they are in Riverside CA. even though the phone number has a local area code.
What doesn't surprise me is that the BPO was being done for Evaluation Solutions!
I cannot seem to find any ruling if the person coming to the property has to have a Real Estate License, or only the person doing it. And then what about the company, can they a Real Estate License in California and do BPO's in Florida?

Right BPOmaster. In Fl, you can have someone do the data entry and upload the photos, but you must take the photos, pull the comps, make (or dictate) the comments in the report and assign a market value. At least that is how it is for every company I've ever done a report for.

In Fl, you MUST be licensed to complete a BPO. Some companies will look the other way, but the banks require an agent to be licensed. If the banks find out that these companies are not complying, that could mean big trouble for them.

I haven't run into any companies at this point that will allow an unlicensed individual to pull comps, take the photos or give their opinions.

To use that thought process that it's a broker price opinion,and thus requires a broker, then agents would be excluded since it's not an agent price opinion.

Permissible Activities of an Unlicensed Assistant
Unlicensed assistant is defined as support staff for a real estate corporation or other licensed individuals.
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Answer the phone and forward calls
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Fill out and submit listings and changes to any multiple listing service
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Follow-up on loan commitments after a contract has been negotiated and generally secure the status reports on the loan progress
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Assemble documents for closing
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Secure documents (public information) from courthouse, utility district, etc.
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Have keys made for company listings, order surveys, termite inspections, home inspections and home warranties with the licensed employer’s approval
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Write ads for approval of the licensee and the supervising broker, and place advertising (newspaper ads, update web sites, etc); prepare flyers and promotional information for approval by licensee and the supervising broker
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Receive, record and deposit earnest money, security deposits and advance rents
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Only type the contract forms for approval by licensee and supervising broker
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Monitor licenses and personnel files
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Compute commission checks
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Place signs on property
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Order items of repair as directed by licensee
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Prepare flyers and promotional information for approval by licensee and supervising broker
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Act as a courier service to deliver documents, pick-up keys
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Place routine telephone calls on late rent payments
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Schedule appointments for licensee to show a listed property


Revised and approved by FREC 09/15/2009