Finding a mortgage recruiter and hiring loan officers in Orlando
Straight answers for Central Florida lenders and brokerages. Based in Orlando, FL, serving clients nationwide.
25+
Years recruiting inside the mortgage industry
I-4
Corridor markets we know — Lake Mary to Lakeland
50
States — searches run for lenders nationwide
How to find a mortgage recruiter
Four questions lenders ask us most often when they're hiring their first recruiter — or replacing one that didn't work.
Start a Search01How do I find a mortgage recruiter in Orlando?
Look for a recruiter who works only in mortgage, knows the Central Florida market, and can name the kinds of producers they've placed. Ask local lenders and branch managers who they use, check LinkedIn for recruiters active in mortgage, and meet with two or three before choosing. Love and Tacos Media is based in Orlando, FL and recruits loan officers and mortgage leaders locally and nationwide.
02What should I look for in a mortgage recruiter?
Real mortgage industry experience, a network of producing loan officers (not just job-board applicants), clear communication about the talent pool in your market, and confidentiality. A good recruiter will tell you honestly whether your role and pay plan will attract the people you want.
03Is a mortgage recruiter different from a general staffing agency?
Yes. A general agency fills many kinds of roles. A mortgage recruiter understands NMLS licensing, comp plans, referral networks, origination volume and production history, so they can screen loan officers the way a mortgage leader would.
04Do I need an Orlando-based recruiter to hire in Orlando?
Not required, but it helps. A local recruiter knows the I-4 corridor markets, from Lake Mary to Kissimmee to Lakeland, and the bilingual buyer communities across Central Florida. We're based in Orlando and also recruit nationwide when the right person lives elsewhere.
Four things to check before you sign
Every recruiter will say yes to all four. The answers you get are the difference.
They only do mortgage
NMLS licensing, comp plans, referral networks, origination volume and production history are second nature. A general agency fills many kinds of roles — a mortgage recruiter screens loan officers the way a mortgage leader would.
They know who's actually producing
Ask where the pipeline comes from. Job-board applicants are easy. Producing loan officers are already employed and closing, and they're found through referrals, industry events and direct, confidential outreach.
They'll tell you the hard thing
A good recruiter tells you honestly whether your role and pay plan will attract the people you want — before you spend six weeks interviewing candidates who were never going to say yes.
They protect your search
Confidentiality matters when you're approaching producers who are closing loans today. Ask exactly how candidates get contacted, and who is told that a search is happening in their office.
How to hire a loan officer
05How do I hire a loan officer?
Start by defining the role: purchase or refinance focus, retail or wholesale, territory, and whether it's in-office, hybrid or remote. Write a clear job description with your pay structure and support. Then source candidates, screen for production history and referral relationships, verify their NMLS record, interview, and make a competitive offer quickly. A recruiter can handle the sourcing and screening for you.
06What licensing does a loan officer need in Florida?
Mortgage loan originators in Florida must hold a Florida loan originator license through the NMLS, which includes pre-licensing education, the SAFE MLO test, and a background check. You can look up any candidate's license on the public NMLS Consumer Access site.
07Where do the best loan officer candidates come from?
Most strong producers are already employed and not applying to job posts. They're found through referrals, industry events, LinkedIn, and direct, confidential outreach. That's why many lenders use a mortgage recruiter for producing loan officers.
08What questions should I ask a loan officer in an interview?
Ask about their last 12 months of closed volume and units, where their referrals come from, which programs they know (FHA, VA, DPA, non-QM), what support they need from processing, and why they're open to a move. For Central Florida roles, ask about their local partners and whether they serve Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking borrowers.
09How long does it take to hire a loan officer?
It depends on the role, market and pay plan. Some searches move in a few weeks, while senior producers or branch leaders can take longer because they're often negotiating with more than one company. Moving quickly once you find the right candidate makes the biggest difference.
10How do I get started with Love and Tacos Media?
Submit a hiring request with the role, location and timing, or call or email Dalila directly. We'll come back with a realistic read on the talent pool in Orlando, across Florida, or anywhere in the country.
More on hiring in Central Florida
Orlando Mortgage Recruiter
Central Florida searches, plus nationwide — what's included and how to start.
Read moreRead nextRecruiting Along the I-4 Corridor
Why Lake Mary, downtown Orlando, Kissimmee and Lakeland are four different hiring markets.
Read moreRead nextWhy Orlando Needs Bilingual LOs
Screening for real Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole skill — and where to find it.
Read moreReady to hire in Orlando — or anywhere?
Tell us about the role and the branch you're building. We'll come back with a realistic read on the talent pool in Orlando, across Florida, or anywhere in the country.