The Commission adopted rules at the August meeting that implement significant changes to the education, experience, and exam requirements for real estate and professional inspectors. These changes are a reflection of the Agency’s commitment to making pre-licensing requirements more impactful while minimizing undue burdens on new applicants entering the industry.
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Changes Coming to Inspector Education and Experience Requirements
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspector Committee - September 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.
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From the Chair - September 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.
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Proposed Rules and Contract Changes From the August Commission Meeting
The Commission has proposed several rule changes based on recommendations made by the Broker Lawyer Committee. The revisions to the TREC standard contract forms address issues that have arisen in response to public comments received from the previously posted version of these rules in the June 12 issue of the Texas Register.
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Reminder: TREC No Longer Accepting Walk Ins
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.
The contact center hours of operation are 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Please call 512-936-3000 to speak to a representative.
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Inspector Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Commission is accepting applications for appointment for two inspectors and one public member positions of the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee.
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ESAC Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Estate Commission is accepting applications for appointment for four real estate license holders members and two education members to the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Committee members will serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021, and expiring December 31, 2022. Real estate license holders applying must have been actively engaged in the practice of real estate for the five years preceding the appointment.
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Intermediary relationships - what you need to know
Intermediary relationships have been part of The Texas Real Estate License Act (TRELA) for well over a decade. Even though these relationships have been well established, there is still confusion about how it works.
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Contracts Course Required for Renewal Starting February 2021
On February 1, 2021, sales agents and brokers will be required to complete at least three hours in contract-related coursework as part of the 18 hours of continuing education (CE) required to renew a license. To provide license holders time to prepare for this change, TREC staff are already approving many existing contract-related courses and will continue to do so as providers apply for approval of new courses.
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Website Survey Launched
TREC and TALCB have launched a survey to help gather feedback about the agency's websites. Completing this short survey will help TREC and TALCB better serve Texans in all matters related to real estate and appraisal services.
We value your opinion and appreciate your time. Thank you for participating.
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Changes Coming to Inspector Education and Experience Requirements
The Commission adopted rules at the August meeting that implement significant changes to the education, experience, and exam requirements for real estate and professional inspectors. These changes are a reflection of the Agency’s commitment to making pre-licensing requirements more impactful while minimizing undue burdens on new applicants entering the industry.
-
Proposed Rules and Contract Changes From the August Commission Meeting
The Commission has proposed several rule changes based on recommendations made by the Broker Lawyer Committee. The revisions to the TREC standard contract forms address issues that have arisen in response to public comments received from the previously posted version of these rules in the June 12 issue of the Texas Register.
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Intermediary relationships - what you need to know
Intermediary relationships have been part of The Texas Real Estate License Act (TRELA) for well over a decade. Even though these relationships have been well established, there is still confusion about how it works.
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Contracts Course Required for Renewal Starting February 2021
On February 1, 2021, sales agents and brokers will be required to complete at least three hours in contract-related coursework as part of the 18 hours of continuing education (CE) required to renew a license. To provide license holders time to prepare for this change, TREC staff are already approving many existing contract-related courses and will continue to do so as providers apply for approval of new courses.
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What is the difference between inactive and expired?
You may have heard other license holders mention “going inactive” and wondered about the difference between inactive and expired. There is a big difference and it might be helpful for you to know.
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2020 Census, What You Need to Know
Did you know the data collected from the census is used all around you? For Texas to get an accurate level of funding and representation in the future, all Texans should fill out a survey.
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Customer Service Team Hard at Work, From Home
In early March the COVID-19 virus began spreading rapidly throughout the country. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) took drastic measures to ensure the health and well-being of the staff while continuing to address the questions and concerns of consumers and license holders. TREC and TALCB quickly determined it was best for staff to transition staff wor
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Tips on Rebates, Referrals, and other Promotions
We regularly receive questions about the difference between rebates, referrals, and other promotions like drawings and client gifts. First, when you are considering offering any of these make sure your advertisements are upfront and clear about what you are offering. If there are terms and conditions to qualify then you should have them in writing and provide them in your advertisement. If you are a sales agent, seek
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Licensing Exam Sites Re-Opening
TREC and Pearson VUE announce licensing exam centers to slowly re-open around the state after swift closure in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. TREC partners with Pearson VUE to offer licensing examinations. Pearson VUE operates both company-owned exam sites and third party sites. TREC has authorized the use of all Pearson VUE third party sites to expand exam capacity during this unprecedented time. All sites continue to enforce social distancing measures and safety requirement
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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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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 Deputy Executive Director - Inspector Committee - September 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.
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From the Chair - September 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.
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From the Executive Director - August 2020
Hello to each of you. I hope you and your families are safe and well.
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - July 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
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspector Committee - July 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.
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From the Chair - July 2020
Last weekend we celebrated our country's 244th birthday.
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From the Executive Director - June 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.
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - May 2020
The Inspector Committee held its regularly scheduled meeting on April 13th. Due to social distancing rules throughout the state, the meeting was held via teleconference. This was the first time in my tenure that this has happened. A huge thank you goes out to TREC staff for getting this put together quickly to help us all stay safe while still getting the important work done that we need to.
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From the Chair - May 2020
This spring has been one of unimaginable changes for the agency, industry, and the world. COVID-19 and all that has come with it continues to make ripples throughout the country. TREC staff have been hard at work to keep things moving at the agency while continuing to provide excellent customer service and timely processing of applications.
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From the Chair - April 2020 - Inspector Committee
The last few months have seen some unprecedented events happen in the world around us. The COVID-19 virus has brought much of the world to a screeching halt. In the interest of keeping everyone as safe as possible, the meeting of the full Inspector Committee scheduled for April 13th will not be conducted at the TREC building in Austin. The meeting will continue as scheduled, but it will be done via teleconference. Please check the TREC website for more details on how to call in
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Reminder: TREC No Longer Accepting Walk Ins
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.
The contact center hours of operation are 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Please call 512-936-3000 to speak to a representative.
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Inspector Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Commission is accepting applications for appointment for two inspectors and one public member positions of the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee.
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Website Survey Launched
TREC and TALCB have launched a survey to help gather feedback about the agency's websites. Completing this short survey will help TREC and TALCB better serve Texans in all matters related to real estate and appraisal services.
We value your opinion and appreciate your time. Thank you for participating.
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UPDATED: Agency Mail Inadvertently Destroyed
Last month, the company TREC and TALCB contracts with to collect and shred documents mistakenly collected mail delivered to the agency.
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TREC HR Director Announced
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), and Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Tawana Hood to Director of Human Resources. Mrs. Hood will oversee all human resources duties for the agency, including employee benefits, payroll, and staff relations. Mrs. Hood has worked for TREC and TALCB since 2018 as a human resources generalist.
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TREC and TALCB extensions of all renewal and application deadlines ends July 31
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TREC Planning Tour Going Virtual
The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the 2020 virtual planning tour. Due to travel restrictions related to the Coronavirus, TREC moved the tour online. Join TREC Chair, Scott Kesner, and TREC Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz as they discuss the future of the agency. In a rapidly changing market, the agency needs to hear from license holders about what issues matter most to them.
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TREC Director of Enforcement Announced
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael Molloy to Director of Standards and Enforcement Services (SES), beginning May 18, 2020.
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TREC Welcomes New Director of Finance
AUSTIN, TX – Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), and Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) are pleased to welcome Ranada Williams as Director of Finance. Williams will oversee the financial strategic planning, accounting operations, procurement, and financial compliance of the agency. She recently transferred from the Texas Military Department, where she had been an employee since 2008, and most recently served as their Chief Financial Officer from 2017-2020.
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Broker Responsibility Working Group Appointments Announced
AUSTIN, TEXAS - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce the appointment of members to the Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG). The newly appointed working group will meet for the first time on June 9.
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ESAC Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Estate Commission is accepting applications for appointment for four real estate license holders members and two education members to the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Committee members will serve a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021, and expiring December 31, 2022. Real estate license holders applying must have been actively engaged in the practice of real estate for the five years preceding the appointment.
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Temporary Allowance for Inspector Ride-Along Courses
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, TREC understands that some inspector applicants may find it challenging to complete the in-person ride-along course required for licensure.
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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.