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 Executive Director - December 2019
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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What is a Fitness Determination Request?
Thinking about applying for a license but have some past criminal offenses or other background issues? Request a Fitness Determination.
Based upon a Sunset recommendation, a Moral Character Determination is now called a Fitness Determination. The process itself has not changed; just the name changed.
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Agency Seeking Executive Director
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is hiring a new Executive Director. Our long-serving Executive Director, Douglas Oldmixon, is retiring at the end of March 2020. The Executive Director serves as the agency leader for both TREC and for the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB), and is responsible for organizational culture and day-to-day operations of the agency.
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End of Year Customer Service Update
In April of 2018, the Executive Director of the Agency reached out to our stakeholders and to the public to acknowledge that the customer service the Agency was providing was unacceptable, and that we were working diligently to find sustainable solutions to resolve these issues.
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A Closer Look at the 2019 Legislative Session
The 2019 Legislative Session concluded on May 27. With over 7,000 bills filed by legislators, this session was a busy one. While the Agency’s primary focus this session was on our Sunset legislation, we did keep our eye on the progress of several bills that could have impacted the Agency in one way or another.
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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 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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From the Deputy Executive Director - September 2019
August 31 marked the end of our fiscal year, and a lot has happened in this last year. Since September 2018, the agency has gone through Sunset review, a legislative session, and changes in the leadership team.
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From the Executive Director - August 2019
August is here with all of its heat, and it’s the last month of the fiscal year for the Agency. August also means both the Commission and Board will have their regularly scheduled meetings this month and that the agendas will be busy –as they always are after a legislative session.
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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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Barbara Russell and Jason Hartgraves Confirmed as TREC Commissioners
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the confirmation of broker member Barbara Russell and public member Jason Hartgraves as new commissioners for terms to expire on January 31, 2025. Governor Abbott nominated them to the post in March and they were confirmed by Senate vote on May 1st. Broker member Scott Kesner was confirmed and appointed as Chair of the Commissi
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New TREC Chair Appointed By Governor Abbott
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce that Governor Abbott has named Scott Kesner of El Paso as Chair of the Commission. On April 24th Mr. Kesner was confirmed by the Senate to serve on the Commission and his appointment as the Chair is effective April 25, 2019 and expires at the pleasure of the Governor. Mr. Kesner is the broker and owner of Century 21 The Edge with offices in El Paso, Midland and Snyder.
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TREC Welcomes New General Counsel
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to welcome Chelsea Buchholtz as General Counsel of the Texas Real Estate Commission Effective March 2019.
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TREC Announces Appointments to Inspector Advisory Committee
Austin, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of three new inspector committee members and two re-appointments to the committee. Mike Morgan of Brownwood was appointed as a new inspector member and Robert John Daehn of Aransas Pass and Dave Motley of Garland were appointed as public members. Lee Warren of Farmersville and public member Barbara Evans of Fort Worth were reappointed.
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TREC No Longer Accepting ACH Payments
After careful consideration, we have decided to discontinue the ACH payment option for our online services. Effective April 1, 2019, all payments submitted through our online services will require a debit or credit card. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
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ESAC Appointments Announced
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the recent appointments of seven new committee members to the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Broker members: Mary Lou Henry, McAllen, Marion Napoleon, Grand Prairie, Ruben Peña, San Antonio, and Lori Solecki, Colleyville and educators: Scott Hilton, Houston, Kellie Stokes, Lewisville, and Kelea Youngblood, Austin, have all been appointed as members with terms set to expire in December 2020.
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Inspector Committee Accepting Applications for Members
The Texas Real Commission is accepting applications for appointment to open Inspector and public member positions of the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee.
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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.