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Escrow services are crucial in a real estate transaction in Nevada. It works as an unbiased third party servicing between a buyer and a seller. To provide escrow services, you have to obtain an escrow agent/agency license from the Division of Mortgage.
To become an Escrow Officer in Nevada, you must
- Complete 15 hours of approved pre-licensing education;
- Work with an Escrow Agency;
- Fill out a Child Support Statement;
- Provide a Personal History Record;
- Submit two fingerprint cards;
- Complete a Personal Financial Questionnaire;
- Obtain a surety bond proof;
- Submit an Escrow Agent application and $100 fee;
- Study the Nevada State Legislature
In Nevada, there are two types of escrow licenses. They are the Escrow Agent, and Escrow Agency.
Escrow agent is an individual working for an escrow or title insurance company. Throughout this guide, I will use the terms “Escrow Agent” and “Escrow Officer” interchangeably.
On the other hand, the “Escrow Agency” license is for those who want to start a company that provides escrow services.
Being an escrow officer is a respectable profession in the real estate industry. To help you better understand this occupation, I spent hours reviewing the Nevada State Legislature and the Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending’s website.
In this guide, you’ll find out the steps to obtain an escrow agent/ agency license in Nevada, income updates, and FAQ about this profession. I’m confident that this valuable info may lead you to make a better-informed career decision.
But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal escrow training. It is for general information only. Please check with your state whether escrow officers/agents are utilized in the closing process. Always follow your State laws and best practices.
A Table Summary to Become an Escrow Officer in Nevada
| Course | Exam | Coverage Verification | Renewal Period | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 hours pre-licensing education | No | Surety bond | 1 year (expires on each July 1st) | $125 (including application fee, 1st year license fee) |
9 Steps to Become an Escrow Officer in Nevada
Step 1: Complete pre-licensing education
According to NRS 645A, you have to complete at least 15 hours of pre-licensing education. It must be taken from an approved course provider.
The syllabus must consist of the following:
- 3 hours of ethics -including instruction on fraud and consumer protection
- 3 hours of federal law and regulations relating to escrow activities
- 4 hours of Nevada law and regulations relating to escrow agents or escrow agencies- Of which, at least 2 hours must be related to NRS 645A and NAC 645A
- 3 hours of instruction on the practical application of escrow processes or a specialized area of practice
- 2 hours of electives
Step 2: Get Hired by an Escrow Agency
In Nevada, you must work with a licensed Escrow Agency to provide escrow services.
On the application, you will be asked to provide the Escrow Agency’s name, address and license number. The Owner/Principal of the Escrow Agency also needs to sign it.
You may search for employment through online job forums, LinkedIn groups, or join the Nevada Escrow Association (NEA).
Step 3: Fill out a child support statement
According to NRS 425.520, you need to fill out this statement regardless of whether you are responsible for child support or not.
On the statement, you have three choices to select.
- You are not subject to a court order for a child’s support
- You are subject to a court order for a child’s support and compliance with the order
- You are subject to a court order for a child’s support and not comply with the order
Step 4: Provide a Personal History Record
This is to ensure you are a trustworthy professional and will serve the public’s best interest. After all, an escrow officer will handle a significant amount of other people’s money on a day-to-day basis.
On the Personal History Record form, you need to provide your residential address and employment history for the last ten years.
To determine your qualification, they will ask about your personal history. For example, have you convicted any felony or misdemeanor? Have you declared bankruptcy in the past ten years? Did you have any professional license being revoked? There are questions relating to conflict of interest too.
If you answer “Yes’ to any of them, you must provide details about the incident. (i.e., the date, charge, agency, location, disposition, and explanation)
Step 5: Submit two fingerprint cards
To determine your person’s character, you need to provide two completed fingerprint cards (Form FD-258). You can get them at local law enforcement agencies.
Here’s a sample of the FD-258 form:
You also need to sign an Authorization and Release Form. This allows the Licensing Division to conduct a criminal history and background check on you.
Although it doesn’t state a fee on the application, a $40.25 fee is mentioned on the Fingerprint Instruction page. It is payable to the Department of Public Safety.
Step 6: Complete a Personal Financial Questionnaire
The Licensing Department needs to know your role and how much control you have over the escrow company. In the Personal Financial Questionnaire form, you need to specify whether you are:
- An individual who owns 25% or more interest in the company
- An individual who has the power to direct the management and policy of the company
- An escrow agent
In addition, you must complete a “Statement of Asset” and a “Statement of Liabilities.” They would list out what you own and what you owe. Note that financial statements submitted according to NRS 645B.085 are public information.
Step 7: Obtain a surety bond proof
The surety bond is to protect your client against your wrongdoing, which results in financial damage. Then they can file a claim against the surety bond.
The escrow agency that employs you is responsible for getting the surety bond. The amount of bond depends on the average monthly balance in the escrow account.
At the time of application filing, you need to supply a proof that you are named as a principal on the corporate surety bond.
Keep in mind that the surety bond is to protect the consumer and not you as an escrow agent. If you want coverage for your business, you may look into Error and Omission Insurance. (E&O)
Step 8: Submit an Escrow Agent Application to the Division of Mortgage Lending
This is a 15-pages application. (i.e., Child Support Statement, Personal History Record, Personal Financial Questionnaire.)
Some part of the application requires to be notarized. You will be in front of a notary public, then sign the documents and take an oath. The notary will also sign the paperwork and affix a seal on it.
The application fee is $100. You may make a check payable to the “Division of Mortgage Lending.”
Once all the required documents are ready, you may mail them to:
STATE OF NEVADA
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
DIVISION OF MORTGAGE LENDING
1830 College Parkway, Suite 100
Carson City, NV 89706
Step 9: Study the Nevada State Legislature
The financial well-being of many people depends on the accuracy and completeness of your escrow services. You must equip yourself with the necessary escrow knowledge.
When you read Chapter 645A, it pretty much cover everything you need to know about being an escrow agent or agency. It is indeed a useful reference if you want to know more in-depth about each escrow topic.
However, its wording is more technical and formal. So I would go through the FAQ page on the Department’s website first, then read the Legislature only if I need further clarification.
I’ll leave their links in the reference section below.
How much does it cost to become an escrow officer in Nevada?
It takes $125 to become an escrow officer in Nevada, which includes $100 application fee and $25 first year license fee.
However, there could be other expenses involved, such as fees for background check, pre-licensing education, CE course, E&O coverage, and business supplies.
How much do escrow officers make in Nevada?
Escrow officers in Nevada make $51,021 on average. The income range usually falls between $41,296 and $61,851. (+) The earning would depend on your skill level, location, years of experience and also the number of transactions you can successful closed.
Furthermore, the type of property that you specialize in working with may also impact your income.
As I’m reviewing the income figures, Commercial Escrow Officers in Nevada have a higher average annual income of $67,199. They mostly earn between $46,002 to $89,531. (-)
Source: (+) Salary.com – Nov 25, 2020; (-) ZipRecruiter.com- Dec 08, 2020
Is there a demand for escrow officers in Nevada?
Some states require an attorney to handle the real estate closing and not an escrow office. The good news is, according to the First American Title, Nevada is not an attorney state.
As I’m writing this post now, I see many job listings for escrow officers in Nevada. However, they tend to look for applicants with at least two years of escrow industry experience. You may get a foot in the door by working as an escrow assistant first.
Furthermore, there are 3.1 million people in Nevada. According to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, 41,269 residential properties were sold in 2019 just in Southern Nevada. As long as people buy and sell properties in the state, there is a demand for escrow officers in Nevada.
When and how to renew the escrow agent license in Nevada?
As an escrow officer in Nevada, you have to renew the escrow agent license before July 1st of every year.
You must complete at least 10 hours of continuing education from an approved course provider. The curriculum must have:
- 2 hours of ethics, which must include instruction on fraud and consumer protection
- 2 hours of federal law and regulations relating to escrow activities
- 2 hours of Nevada law and regulations relating to NRS 645A and NAC 645A or other Nevada laws and regulations relating to mortgages and
- 4 hours of electives, which may include instruction appropriate to a specialized area of practice
Here’s the renewal form. Similar to the original application, you need to provide information on child support, personal disclosure, and other essential details to process the license renewal.
There is a $125 license renewal fee that you can pay by a check .(Payable to the State of Nevada, Division of Mortgage Lending).
Where can I obtain more details about being an escrow officer in Nevada?
You may contact the Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending:
- 1830 College Parkway, Suite 100, Carson City, NV 89706
- Phone: 775-684-7060
- Fax: 775-684-7061
- Email: MLDLicensing@mld.nv.gov
Helpful tips for building your escrow services career in Nevada
Tip#1: Network with other real estate professionals in Nevada
In addition to connecting with other escrow companies, networking with other real estate professionals would be a great idea. Mortgage agents, lenders, notary loan signing agents, and realtors can all provide you with valuable insight, which could help your career building in the long haul.
Here’s a list real estate professional groups on our resource page. Hope this will be useful to you.
Tip#2: Build a scalable business
As you master the skills and experience in the escrow industry, consider getting an Escrow Agency license. It allows you to set up your own company and hire other escrow agents. Thus, lead to a scalable business model.
To obtain an Escrow Agency license in Nevada, you must submit:
- Child Support Statement (*)
- Personal History Record (*)
- Personal Financial Questionnaire (*)
- Non-Personal History Record (*)
- Two years of Financial statements (*)
- Two completed fingerprints cards (*)
- Application for Escrow Agent for each qualified employee (including fees)
- Corporate Surety Bond
- Escrow Agency Application, a $500 application fee and a $200 first year licensing fee
(*) Mandatory for each person who has 25% or more interest in the company, or has the power to direct the management and policy of the company or each escrow agent.
Here’s the amount of corporate surety bond an Escrow Agency is required to have:
| Average Monthly Balance | Amount of Bond or Security Required |
|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | $20,000 |
| More than $50,000 and not more than $250,000 | $50,000 |
| More than $250,000 and not more than $500,000 | $100,000 |
| More than $500,000 and not more than $750,000 | $150,000 |
| More than $750,000 but not more than $1,000,000 | $200,000 |
| More than $1,000,000 | $250,000 |
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.
(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Reference:
- Nevada State Legislature, Chapter 645A- Escrow Agencies and Agents (source)
- Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending (source)
- FAQ- Escrow Agencies and Escrow Agents (source)
- Individual Form Instructions and Checklist (source)
- Non-Refundable Licensing AND Regulatory Fees (source)
- Escrow Agent Renewal Application – Individual Renewal Form Instructions and Checklist (source)
- Escrow Agency Renewal Application Company Form Instructions and Checklist (source)
- Education for Escrow Agents/ Agencies (source)
- Instructions for Completion of Fingerprint Request Form and Fingerprint Cards (source)
- Nevada Business – GLVAR Reports (source)
- Salary.com – Escrow Officer Salary in Nevada (source)
- ZipRecruiter.com – Commercial Escrow Officer Salary in Nevada (source)
- First American Title- Your Guide to Real Estate Customs by State (source)
