The Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee (BRAC) met January 15. It held elections for officers and selected the following:
-
BRAC Continues Discussion on Broker Education and Experience Requirements, Seeks Feedback
01/25/2025
-
First ESAC Meeting of 2025 Focuses on Exam Proctoring
01/09/2025
For the Texas Real Estate Commission, 2025 opens with the first meeting of the year held by the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Its January 6 agenda began with an introduction of new members:
- Christina Valero, license holder member
- Christopher Gonzales, license holder member
- Paul Silverman, educator
Reappointments were also made:
-
A Win for Protecting Texas Consumers
12/10/2024
After combing through 1,100 complaints during his 11-year tenure with the Commission, TREC Chief Investigator Roy Minton wins Investigator of the Year for a second time. The first win was in 2019. Both recognitions, by the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), were given for Minton’s work in uncovering rental fraud.
-
Can You Use Unlicensed Individuals to Help With Your Texas Real Estate Transactions? It Depends.
11/17/2024
Real estate transactions are complex, so many brokers and sales agents engage the help of assistants to handle the administrative details. Regardless of an assistant’s professional title—unlicensed assistant, administrative assistant, office manager, and transaction coordinator are popular—the real estate license status determines what type of activities they can legally perform in Texas.
-
TREC Form Changes Effective January 3, 2025
11/15/2024
The changes listed below, recommended by the Broker-Lawyer Committee, were adopted by the Texas Real Estate Commission during its November 4 meeting. These apply to all contract forms unless specified otherwise.
-
Working for Multiple Brokerages: What Transaction Coordinators and Showing Agents Are Allowed to Do in Texas
11/12/2024
The Real Estate License Act (TRELA) says a licensed sales agent may not engage in real estate brokerage activity unless that sales agent is sponsored by a licensed broker and is acting for that broker.
In Texas, transaction coordinators and showing agents are frequently used by brokerages as part of their business model, but sometimes these models entail working for other brokerages. Here is what “acting for” your broker means in these situations.
-
TREC Meeting Recap: Contract Form Changes Coming in 2025
11/12/2024
Multiple contract form changes were adopted by the Texas Real Estate Commission during the November 4 TREC Meeting after being recommended by the Broker-Lawyer Committee (BLC). Some of those changes are in response to industry practice changes around broker compensation.
-
Who is My Client When a Third Party is Paying for the Inspection?
11/12/2024
When a third party, such as a relative or real estate agent, is paying for an inspection, does this mean the third party is the client? Under TREC rules, the answer is no. Another person paying for the inspection on behalf of the client does not change who the inspector's client is for this transaction. The inspection report should be delivered to the client, regardless of who pays for the inspection.
-
It’s Just the Beginning: TREC Awarded for Course Design Overhaul
11/05/2024
With the notion of keeping everything under one roof, Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) staff took on a new part of the development of the 2024-2025 Legal Update I & II courses. Thanks to the skills and talent of TREC Director of Government and Strategic Communications Summer Mandell, this book was wholly produced in-house, to include the design of the course materials.
-
BRAC Continues Discussion on Education and Experience to Become a Broker
10/30/2024
The Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee (BRAC) met October 15 and discussed potential changes to becoming a licensed broker in Texas.
Currently, to become a licensed broker, 900 education hours are required (630 of these hours are required to be in related education). If an applicant holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, the 630 hours of related education are satisfied, regardless of field of study.
None.
-
From the Chair - November 2020
11/12/2020
I hope this message finds you recovering from Halloween and the election. In these uncertain times, I urge us all to focus on what matters to us most. November brings Thanksgiving, and with that a unique opportunity to give thanks. This year is one for the record books, but I am grateful to live in the great state of Texas.
-
From the Chair - Inspector Committee - October 2020
10/14/2020
The Inspector Advisory Committee met on October 12 via teleconference. There were some public comments submitted in response to the newly proposed Consumer Protection Notice, and most of the feedback was positive. The new notice includes verbiage to inform consumers that inspectors are required to carry E&O insurance, and that inspectors have the ability to limit their liability through the use of an agreement between themselves and their client.
-
From the Executive Director - October 2020
10/08/2020
October is here. It is finally cooling off outside and the hints of fall in the air give me a spirit of optimism for our future. I hope that is true for you too.
-
From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspector Committee - September 2020
09/15/2020
After almost two years of effort on the part of the Inspector Committee to restructure and streamline the education and substitute experience requirements for inspector licensure, the Commission adopted rules at its August meeting to implement the proposals recommended by the Committee. This long-overdue revamp of these requirements remove redundancies in the current rules and simplify the process to become an inspector in Texas.
-
From the Chair - September 2020
09/11/2020
We have made it another month in the virtual environment, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready to see folks in person again. The agency continues to work primarily remotely with a high level of productivity, maintaining a call hold time of under 2 minutes, and processing 5 months of renewals after the COVID extensions expired.
-
From the Executive Director - August 2020
08/14/2020
Hello to each of you. I hope you and your families are safe and well.
-
From the Chair - Inspector Committee - July 2020
08/12/2020
The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee met via teleconference on July 20th. The agenda was reasonably short this time around. The education rules which change the pre-licensure process were proposed at the previous Commission meeting, and they have gone through the public comment period. After considering the comments received, the Inspector Committee voted to forward the rules as proposed, along with some non-substantive changes made as a result of questions raised by the Go
-
From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspector Committee - July 2020
07/08/2020
The agency has been busy over the last several months adjusting to the new norm resulting from the COVID-19 virus. We are operating almost 100% remotely, with only essential staff coming into the office to process mail, or deal with the various technical issue that arise from a remote workforce.
-
From the Chair - July 2020
07/07/2020
Last weekend we celebrated our country's 244th birthday.
-
From the Executive Director - June 2020
06/08/2020
Greetings to you upon the beginning of summer. I hope each of you continues to live well in this COVID-19 season. This is a season in which the burdens of each of us are personal and unique. Our agency will do what we can to ease whatever burdens possible.
-
Education Standards Advisory Committee Accepting Applications for Members
07/15/2022
The Texas Real Estate Commission's Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) is accepting applications to fill two education member positions by real estate instructors or owners of real estate schools, accredited by the Commission, that provide qualifying or continuing education. It is also accepting applications to fill four real estate license holder positions.
-
Notice: Phone Outage August 10
07/08/2022
Multiple state agencies, including Texas Real Estate Commission and Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board, are experiencing technical difficulties with the services we use to handle phone calls. The phone system is currently down as the Texas Department of Information Resources troubleshoots the issue.
-
HOA Management Certificate Website Now Live
11/29/2021
During the 87th regular session, the Texas legislature passed SB 1588 which amended Chapter 209 of the Texas Property Code governing certain property owners ' associations (more commonly known as HOAs) to address a number of HOA-related issues, including providing greater transparency in HOA operations and leadership.
-
View the Commission Meeting Live!
11/08/2021
View today's Commission meeting in real-time! Make sure to review the full agenda and materials and follow along.
-
New Filing Requirements for HOAs
09/16/2021
During the 87th regular session, the Texas legislature passed SB 1588 related to Home Owner Associations (HOAs). This bill requires TREC to establish a database to accept management certificates from HOAs.
-
Broker-Lawyer Committee Appointments Announced
09/10/2021
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce the appointment of two broker members to the TREC Broker-Lawyer Committee. Broker members Dianne McCoy and Mary Miner were appointed at the August 2021 Commission meeting with terms set to expire in 2027.
-
Have You Noticed Longer Hold Times with TREC?
08/24/2021
As a result of the healthy Texas real estate market, the agency has seen an increase in new applications and longer hold times. TREC is committed to providing superior customer service to anyone who reaches out to the agency. Part of that commitment is a dedication to ensure short hold times and quick responses to emails.
-
May Coffee with The Commission Video
06/09/2021
In case you missed it, we have published the May "Coffee with the Commission" session. TREC Chair, Scott Kesner and TREC Executive Director, Chelsea Buchholtz discussed the latest from the May TREC Commission meeting and answered your questions about recently adopted rules, the legislative session, upcoming events, and more.
-
UPDATE: Business Entity Licenses Restored
06/07/2021
Broker business entity licenses were inactivated in error on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The issue is resolved, and all licenses are restored.
-
Proposed and Adopted Rules from the May 2021 Commission Meeting
05/20/2021
During the May Commission meeting, rules relating to the Inspector Standards of Practice (SOP) were proposed. These proposed revisions are the product of many meetings of the Inspector SOP subcommittee and the work of the entire Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee. The Commission also adopted a rule which helps streamline the process for petitioning the Commission for the adoption of rules. See the full agenda and mate
None.
-
Continuing Education (CE) Posting System Update
08/25/2021
An upload feature has been added to the CE Posting System. The upload feature allows CE providers to use a CSV file to upload CE course completions for real estate agents, inspectors, and appraisers as an alternative method to manual entry.
-
TREC Needs Your Feedback on New ERW Education
08/23/2021
The 87th Texas Legislature enacted HB 2730, requiring easement/right of way (ERW) agents to complete 16 hours of qualifying education prior to registration and 16 hours of continuing education per registration period. As a result, TREC will establish an education program for ERW agents.
-
Reminder: Inspector Non-Elective Course Changes
08/09/2021
The current inspector non-elective CE courses, 4-hour Inspector Legal & Ethics, and 4-hour Standards of Practice Review course expire on August 31, 2021. Please be sure all students enrolled in these courses are notified to complete these two courses before August 31, 2021.
The new 8 Hour Inspector Legal & Ethics and Standards of Practice Review course will replace the two inspector non-elective courses on September 1, 2021.
-
How Education Providers Can Submit Course Applications
08/05/2021
Education providers can electronically provide TREC their course content, text materials, quizzes, exercises, and exams using SharePoint. The only item education providers must send by mail is the application form and the required fee. Once mailed, contact the Education & Examinations Division to receive instructions for using SharePoint.
-
Renewal of Qualifying Real Estate and Inspector Courses
07/19/2021
To expedite the renewal of qualifying courses where content, design, and delivery have not changed, qualifying education (QE) providers may submit the appropriate Qualifying Course Application (Real Estate or Inspector) and the Qualifying Course Renewal Certif
-
New Inspector Non-Elective CE Course
07/12/2021
The new 8 Hour Inspector Legal & Ethics and Standards of Practice Review course is effective on September 1, 2021. This course replaces the 4-hour Inspector Legal and Ethics and the 4 hour Standards of Practice Review courses.
-
Inspector Non-Elective Course Changes
06/18/2021
The current inspector non-elective CE courses, 4-hour Inspector Legal & Ethics and 4-hour Standards of Practice Review course expire on August 31, 2021. Please be sure all students enrolled in these courses are notified to complete these two courses before August 31, 2021.
-
ESAC Meeting Update - April 2021
04/22/2021
The Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) met on April 5, 2021. This meeting was held virtually and included a presentation from the Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG) Chair, Leslie Lerner. ESAC and BRWG have agreed to collaborate to develop recommendations aimed at better informing sales agents and brokers of duties and responsibilities to one another, which may include both education and experience co
-
Tips for Submitting a CE Course Application
03/29/2021
Choosing the Right Delivery Method
-
Reminder to Inspector QE Providers
02/21/2021
New real estate inspector and
None.
Customer Survey
Rules and Laws
Contract Forms
