The agency is continually evaluating the potential impact COVID-19 may have on all aspects of agency operations, including those related to the regulatory and licensing functions of the agency. We recently published a statement on agency procedures going forward.
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Impact of COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions
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TREC is Open for Business
COVID-19 has impacted daily life as we know it. In the midst of this crisis, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has worked to ensure continued service to license holders and the public while protecting our employees. As a result, our physical offices in Austin are closed to the public, and staff and operations have transitioned to working remotely.
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TREC and TALCB grants waiver to extend all renewal and application deadlines through May 31
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TREC No Longer Accepting Walk Ins
Due to the current events surrounding COVID-19 and safety concerns, the Texas Real Estate Commission has temporarily closed lobby access to members of the public. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the consumers of Texas and our staff. The agency will remain open to provide assistance via phone and email.
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Scam Alert! Make Sure You Know If A Message Is From Us
UPDATE: Due to a recent resurgence of SPAM messages being sent out to our license holders, we wanted to remind you of these tips to help keep your information secure!
Scammers or Spammers sometimes try to copy and email and text from messages from TREC or TALCB to trick you into providing personal information. We know this can be confusing and frustrating, and we want to help make sure you don't fall victim to these schemes.
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UPDATE: Planning and Introductory Tour POSTPONED
Due to the extraordinary events related to the COVID - 19 outbreak TREC has decided to postpone all dates on the upcoming introductory and planning tour. We will, to the best of our ability, reschedule all planned dates. If you have further questions about TREC's response to the COVID - 19 outbreak please be sure to refer to statement on office procedures and FAQs.
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TREC Launches Approved Course Search Tool
The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the launch of our Approved Course Search tool. Anyone can use this tool to search for currently approved qualifying or continuing education (CE) courses for real estate or inspector license holders. The tools allows individuals to search for a specific provider or type of course using one or more search functions. Locate a provider by searching their provider name, license number or all providers in the same city. Search for courses
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Broker Responsibility Working Group Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Estate Commission is soliciting interest for membership of the 2020 Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG). The BRWG will make recommendations to the Commission based on the scope of its charge and will likely meet four or five times over the 2020 calendar year. The Commission is charging the BRWG to examine experience requirements for potential substitution of education requirements to become a broker. The BRWG will review broker licensing requirement
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TREC Chair Named Texas REALTOR® of the Year
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce TREC Chair, R. Scott Kesner, has been named Texas REALTOR® of the Year at the Texas REALTORS® (TR) annual Winter Meeting on Mo
nday. -
TREC Welcomes New General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to welcome Vanessa Burgess as General Counsel of the Texas Real Estate Commission effective February 3, 2020.
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TREC Launches Approved Course Search Tool
The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the launch of our Approved Course Search tool. Anyone can use this tool to search for currently approved qualifying or continuing education (CE) courses for real estate or inspector license holders. The tools allows individuals to search for a specific provider or type of course using one or more search functions. Locate a provider by searching their provider name, license number or all providers in the same city. Search for courses
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Broker Responsibility Working Group Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Estate Commission is soliciting interest for membership of the 2020 Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG). The BRWG will make recommendations to the Commission based on the scope of its charge and will likely meet four or five times over the 2020 calendar year. The Commission is charging the BRWG to examine experience requirements for potential substitution of education requirements to become a broker. The BRWG will review broker licensing requirement
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TREC Welcomes New General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to welcome Vanessa Burgess as General Counsel of the Texas Real Estate Commission effective February 3, 2020.
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TREC Eliminates Certain Fees for License Holders
TREC has worked hard over the past year to improve efficiencies and reduce the burden on license holders who conduct business with the agency. TREC is a self-directed, semi-independent agency, which means that the daily operations of the agency are funded through license fees and other revenue related to the regulation of our license holders.
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Rule Actions Taken at the November Meeting
Many rules were adopted at TREC’s November 19, 2019 meeting, including rule changes to implement Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations and mandates, changes to implement other legislation, and fee changes. Additionally, TREC considered recommendations by the Broker-Lawyer Committee related to promulgated forms.
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Big Changes to Criminal History Process to Benefit You
Effective January 2, 2020, TREC and TALCB will activate the FBI rap back program for all of the Agency’s license holders.
What is the FBI Rap Back Program?
The FBI rap back program allows TREC and TALCB to receive criminal history information on our license holders in real-time. This replaces the Agency's current practice of performing a subsequent background check at the time of a license holder's renewal.
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Responding to a TREC Investigation
The filing of a complaint against a real estate license holder is not uncommon. In fiscal year 2019, the Texas Real Estate Commissions’ Standards & Enforcement Services Division (SES) reviewed 1,615 complaints filed by consumers against real estate brokers and sales agents and Commission investigators completed 467 field investigations.
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TREC Chief Investigator Wins Prestigious Award
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce Chief Investigator Roy Minton, has received the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) Investigator of the Year Award for 2019.
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Inspector Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Estate Commission is accepting applications for appointment for an Inspector member position on the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee to fill an unexpired term ending in December 2021.
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Brokers and Preferred Lists of Service Providers – What’s allowed now?
TREC recently amended §535.148 (and made conforming changes to §535.220) to strengthen settlement service provider independence and provide clarity about consumer protection issues when a license holder pays funds to or receives funds from another real estate settlement service provider. TREC has long had rules in place limiting an inspector’s
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Scam Alert! Make Sure You Know If A Message Is From Us
UPDATE: Due to a recent resurgence of SPAM messages being sent out to our license holders, we wanted to remind you of these tips to help keep your information secure!
Scammers or Spammers sometimes try to copy and email and text from messages from TREC or TALCB to trick you into providing personal information. We know this can be confusing and frustrating, and we want to help make sure you don't fall victim to these schemes.
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License Revocation Makes News
Recently, the Commission was mentioned in a news story about a former license holder whose license was revoked by the agency.
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Beware of Possible Scams before Sending Money via Wire Transfer
Before wiring money for an escrow deposit or to close on a home purchase, License Holders should make sure to talk with their clients to ensure they are sending funds to the correct recipient and account. Consumers should not rely on instructions sent by email without contacting their broker or sales agent to verify the instructions are correct, since emails may be hijacked by potential scammers.
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Scam Notice!!!
TREC has been made aware of a scam requesting information from license holders. The request is sent by email by someone posing as the Texas Real Estate Commission and asks that information be provided to them and provides a link to follow (see example emails).
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Consumer Guide to The Texas Real Estate Commission
Buying and selling a home can be overwhelming. We're here to help.
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - January 2020
The Inspector Committee met recently at the Texas Real Estate Commission headquarters in Austin. The committee welcomed its newest member, Scott Regan, to the Inspector Committee. Scott comes with over 15 y
ears of experience in the field as an inspector, HVAC licensee, plumbing licensee and educator. We look forward to Scott’s impact on the committee. -
From the Executive Director - January 2020
Change is in the air! A new year, a new decade, and of course changes at TREC too. I start the year and this new position as TREC’s executive director with great expectations and excitement for the future. My predecessor, Doug Oldmixon’s presence will continue through March, which is very helpful to me and our agency through this leadership transition. I am grateful for the gradual transition and Doug’s willingness to impart his knowledge. Doug will leave behind a legacy of strong leader
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From the Executive Director - December 2019
December is upon us and the Holiday Season has begun in earnest. From our agency to your offices and homes, we wish you all the very best of blessings of the Season and a prosperous New Year in 2020. At TREC & TALCB we are celebrating the selection of our next Executive Director and Commissioner who will take on those responsibilities effective January 1st.
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From the Chair - December 2019
I find it hard to believe it is almost the end of 2019 already! We have been so busy that the time truly seems to have flown by. The Holiday Season is now upon us and we are looking forward to the New Year with great anticipation. Let me wish each of you all the very best during this special time of year!
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - December 2019
The newly proposed process for qualifying inspector education was up for adoption at the November TREC meeting. However, the Commission postponed consideration to adopt these rules at the request of the Governor’s office. Senate Bill 1995 was passed last legislative session that creates a division within the Governor’s office to review all agency proposed rules that affect market competition before the rule is adopted or implemented.
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspectors - November 2019
It’s been a busy fall for TREC and the Inspector Committee. We continue to implement the Sunset recommendations and statutory changes, most of which will be considered for adoption at the November 19th Commission meeting, including the amendments to the inspector qualifying education rules. If adopted by the Commission at the November meeting, these new requirements will take effect on May 1, 2020.
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From the Executive Director - November 2019
November has arrived, the World Series is done, NFL Football is halfway over, and the extended Holiday season is just around the corner. Before you know it, Thanksgiving Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter solstice, Christmas and New Year’s will be upon us, affording each of us at least one tradition to celebrate.
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - October 2019
The Inspector Committee met on October 7 at the Texas Real Estate Commission. Many of the items before the committee were proposed at the July meeting. The Committee received public comments on the proposed changes. The Committee considered those comments, and the proposals moved forward as written. The most notable changes in the rules are those to the pre-licensure for home inspectors in Texas. The new process cuts the number of hours required approximately in half for the most utilize
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From the General Counsel - October 2019
October marks six months since I began with the Commission. I am grateful for the warm welcome and generosity shown to me by our staff team, our policymakers and our license holders.
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From the Chair - September 2019
In August the Commission met for its regular quarterly meeting, and the agenda was far from typical! We said a special thanks to Mr. Brad Philips who has served for twelve years on the Inspector Advisory Committee, with two terms as its Chair. The majority of the lengthy meeting was filled with fiscal year-end updates on a variety of matters that are a result of the 2019 legislative session, and much of which needed to be accomplished before September 1st or by January 1st.
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Impact of COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions
The agency is continually evaluating the potential impact COVID-19 may have on all aspects of agency operations, including those related to the regulatory and licensing functions of the agency. We recently published a statement on agency procedures going forward.
-
TREC is Open for Business
COVID-19 has impacted daily life as we know it. In the midst of this crisis, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has worked to ensure continued service to license holders and the public while protecting our employees. As a result, our physical offices in Austin are closed to the public, and staff and operations have transitioned to working remotely.
-
TREC and TALCB grants waiver to extend all renewal and application deadlines through May 31
-
TREC No Longer Accepting Walk Ins
Due to the current events surrounding COVID-19 and safety concerns, the Texas Real Estate Commission has temporarily closed lobby access to members of the public. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of the consumers of Texas and our staff. The agency will remain open to provide assistance via phone and email.
-
UPDATE: Planning and Introductory Tour POSTPONED
Due to the extraordinary events related to the COVID - 19 outbreak TREC has decided to postpone all dates on the upcoming introductory and planning tour. We will, to the best of our ability, reschedule all planned dates. If you have further questions about TREC's response to the COVID - 19 outbreak please be sure to refer to statement on office procedures and FAQs.
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TREC Chair Named Texas REALTOR® of the Year
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce TREC Chair, R. Scott Kesner, has been named Texas REALTOR® of the Year at the Texas REALTORS® (TR) annual Winter Meeting on Mo
nday. -
Get CE Credit for Attending a Commission Meeting!
A real estate license holder may receive up to four hours of continuing education elective credit per license period for attendance in person at a February Commission meeting.
To be eligible for the credit, current license holders must:
- Attend the meeting in person;
- Attend the meeting from the start to the end;
- Provide photo identification; and
- Sign in and out on the class attendance roster for the meeting.
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TREC Announces Appointments to the Education Standards Advisory Committee
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (the Commission) is pleased to announce the recent appointments of two new committee members and two reappointments to the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Public member, Rick Albers of Austin and educator member, Candy Cooke of Round Rock, have been appointed; and broker members, Rob Cook of Houston and Sarah Norman of Bryan have been reappointed to ESAC, with terms set to expire in December 2021.
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Commission Announces New Executive Director
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce Chelsea Buchholtz as Executive Director of TREC effective January 1, 2020. She will be the first female executive director in TREC’s history. The Executive Director also serves as the Commissioner of the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB), who participated significantly in the selection process. Ms. Buchholtz currently serves as the Commission’s General Counsel.
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Future of the Plumbing Board and its Impact on Inspectors
UPDATE:
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Update on Changes to Instructor Approvals
To implement requirements in the agency’s Sunset bill, the Commission recently adopted rules eliminating TREC licenses for instructors. However, the standards that set the qualifications for instructors did not change. Effective September 1, education providers are now responsible to ensure instructors meet the qualifications to teach a course.
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Reminder: Instructor Changes Coming Soon!
To implement provisions in the agency’s recent Sunset bill, TREC has proposed rules to eliminate instructor licensing. The proposed rules are expected to be adopted at the August Commission meeting with an effective date of September 1, 2019.
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Instructor License Changes Coming Soon
To implement provisions in the agency’s Sunset bill, the Commission has proposed rules to eliminate instructor licensing. The proposed rules are expected to be adopted at the August Commission meeting with an effective date of September 1, 2019. TREC will continue to approve and renew instructor licenses through August 31, 2019.
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Reminder Regarding the Use of Proctors
A provider is responsible for making sure course examinations are proctored by a faculty or staff member, or third party proctor acceptable to the Commission. Examples of acceptable third party proctors are listed in Section 535.65(h) of TREC rules. Proctors must be required to positively identify that the student taking the exam is the student who registered for and took the course. It is equally important to make sure proctors understand that an examinee must be monitored at all times.
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Changes to the TREC Education & Licensing Services Division
If you were not tuned in to the February Commission meeting you missed a very important announcement.
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Required Revisions to Remaining Qualifying Courses
Deadlines for content revisions to the Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Investments, Real Estate Law and Residential Inspection for Real Estate Agents qualifying real estate course topics were adopted and are effective on August 7, 2018 for classroom courses and November 7, 2018 for courses offered through distance education. If you have not resubmitted your courses for review, you may do so by mailing the
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Deadline is Approaching for Revisions to Real Estate Marketing Qualifying Course Content
Effective November 15, 2017, course providers approved to offer the qualifying Real Estate Marketing course through distance education delivery must comply with content revisions adopted by the Commission.
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Providing Exam Proctoring Information to Your Students
Many education providers have opted for live and in-person proctoring for final exams.
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TREC Complaints and Education Providers
What methods do you have in place to ensure continued compliance with Commission rules? Do you, or someone on your staff, regularly review your advertising materials and website content? Do you know what you are advertising? Familiarizing yourself and your staff with TREC rules is the key to staying in compliance. TREC investigates complaints directed to the agency. Sources of such complaints may come from students, your competitors or other agency stakeholders. Remember, as an agency charge
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ESAC Chair Receives Distinguished Award
TREC is pleased to announce that the Chair of our Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC), Susan Jones has received the Larry Outlaw Education Excellence Award at this year's Real Estate Education Association (REEA) conference.