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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TREC No Longer Accepting ACH Payments
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From the Chair - March 2019
Due to the amount of business we needed to conduct to both meet our obligations to advance the normal work of the Commission, and consider all of the matters highlighted in the agency’s Sunset Report, the Commission met for two days in February. The Texas REALTORS Winter Meeting overlapped our dates, so we had several extra stakeholders in attendance – and they earned CE credit for attending!
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - March 2019
The IAC has been busy already this year. Through a substantial amount of time and hard work, the Education Subcommittee has proposed, and the IAC approved recommending changes to how one can obtain a license in Texas. Texas has had some of the strictest requirements for licensure of any state in the union. The proposed number of hours to be eligible for a license will go down significantly, but the content of those courses will change as well. Keep in mind that the intent here is not to l
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Scam Alert! Make Sure You Know If A Message Is From Us
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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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspectors - February 2019
The Inspector Committee met on February 4. Among the business items taken up by the Committee was the election of the Committee officers for the upcoming Calendar year. Lee Warren was elected as the chair of the Committee, Shawn Emerick was elected as vice-chair and Steven Rinehart was elected as secretary. I would like to thank the outgoing officers for their leadership over the last year.
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From the Executive Director - February 2019
So far, 2019 has offered Texas both very cold and very mild conditions – a bit unpredictable as this new year advances. Perhaps this corresponds to the unexpected combination of elements at work as the legislative session gets underway?
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Do You Have a Question About TREC's Laws or Rules? Here's a Few Tips for How We Can Help
Did you know that TREC's Standards and Enforcement Services (SES) staff are available to answer certain legal questions by email or phone?
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspectors - January 2019
I’d first like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. I hope you all had time to relax and enjoy the Holiday season. The New Year always brings with it an opportunity to reflect on the past and make a commitment to address those areas in which we might fall short.
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From the Executive Director - January 2019
Happy New Year! As we return recharged from the holidays and gear up for the season, there are some key items to keep us busy in the very near future. So let’s dive right in…
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I Received A Complaint, Now What Happens?
So, you have a problem with a licensed real estate sales agent or maybe you’re aware of conduct of a real estate broker that you believe is improper.
Standards & Enforcement Services (or “SES”) is the TREC division that handles enforcement of the Commission’s laws and Rules through complaint investigation and disciplinary action, and we're here to help.
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Do You Have a Question About TREC's Laws or Rules? Here's a Few Tips for How We Can Help
Did you know that TREC's Standards and Enforcement Services (SES) staff are available to answer certain legal questions by email or phone?
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I Received A Complaint, Now What Happens?
So, you have a problem with a licensed real estate sales agent or maybe you’re aware of conduct of a real estate broker that you believe is improper.
Standards & Enforcement Services (or “SES”) is the TREC division that handles enforcement of the Commission’s laws and Rules through complaint investigation and disciplinary action, and we're here to help.
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Print License History On Demand
The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to announce the launch of our new automated Certified License History tool. This new features allowing anyone to print a certified license history ON DEMAND for FREE! This is just one more way TREC is working to simplify our processes to provide excellent customer service.
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Brokers and Preferred Lists of Service Providers - What's Allowed?
The Commission has received several questions about whether a broker may advertise about a service provider (such as a real estate inspector) and, if allowed, are there any limits to this type of activity?
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Is the Sunset Process Done Yet?
Contributed by - Tony Slagle – Deputy Executive Director
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What You Need to Know to Comply With Our Social Media Rules
The rules for advertising on social media platforms are NOT exactly the same as the rules for putting a link to the IABS and CPN on a social media platform used as a business website because the requirements for each rule differ.
Rule 535.155, Advertisements
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Make Sure Paragraph 21 is Filled Out
The One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), like many contracts, contains a “Notices” provision. In that TREC contract, the provision is in Paragraph 21. This needs to be filled out so the parties know where a notice should be sent or delivered to be effective. A license holder should remind their client how important this provision is and ensure, to the extent possible, that it gets filled out fully and accurately.
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Can An Inspector Perform A Sewer Line Inspection?
NO, unless the inspector is also a licensed plumber. TREC’s Standards of Practice (§535.231) require an inspector to operate plumbing fixtures, test for drain performance, and to report deficiencies in water supply pipes and waste pipes.
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The Sunset Review Process and Strategic Planning
Many of you know that the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) is currently undergoing a review by the staff of the Sunset Advisory Commission. But what is a Sunset review and why is it necessary?
In the mid-1970s, many states, including Texas, established Sunset laws as a method to introduce an additional level of accountability for state agencies. Here’s a breakdown of how the process works in Texas:
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Name Management Tool Launched!
TREC has launched our new Name Management Tool to allow broker license holders to easily manage their names with the agency online and get in compliance with the new advertising rules.
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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 - March 2019
Due to the amount of business we needed to conduct to both meet our obligations to advance the normal work of the Commission, and consider all of the matters highlighted in the agency’s Sunset Report, the Commission met for two days in February. The Texas REALTORS Winter Meeting overlapped our dates, so we had several extra stakeholders in attendance – and they earned CE credit for attending!
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From the Chair - Inspector Committee - March 2019
The IAC has been busy already this year. Through a substantial amount of time and hard work, the Education Subcommittee has proposed, and the IAC approved recommending changes to how one can obtain a license in Texas. Texas has had some of the strictest requirements for licensure of any state in the union. The proposed number of hours to be eligible for a license will go down significantly, but the content of those courses will change as well. Keep in mind that the intent here is not to l
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspectors - February 2019
The Inspector Committee met on February 4. Among the business items taken up by the Committee was the election of the Committee officers for the upcoming Calendar year. Lee Warren was elected as the chair of the Committee, Shawn Emerick was elected as vice-chair and Steven Rinehart was elected as secretary. I would like to thank the outgoing officers for their leadership over the last year.
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From the Executive Director - February 2019
So far, 2019 has offered Texas both very cold and very mild conditions – a bit unpredictable as this new year advances. Perhaps this corresponds to the unexpected combination of elements at work as the legislative session gets underway?
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From the Deputy Executive Director - Inspectors - January 2019
I’d first like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. I hope you all had time to relax and enjoy the Holiday season. The New Year always brings with it an opportunity to reflect on the past and make a commitment to address those areas in which we might fall short.
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From the Executive Director - January 2019
Happy New Year! As we return recharged from the holidays and gear up for the season, there are some key items to keep us busy in the very near future. So let’s dive right in…
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From the Chair - Inspectors - December 2018
As we wrap up the calendar year, I want to again thank everyone who has attended meetings over the last year, both Inspector Committee meetings and Commission meetings.
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From the Chair - December 2018
The Commission met on Thursday November 15 at the State Capitol. It was the longest meeting we have had in my memory, and it was also enormously fruitful for clarifying some policy expectations.
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From the Executive Director - November 2018
November is upon us and the football season in Texas is more than half done. What happens in the coming weeks makes all the difference for which teams make the playoffs. Some teams are getting better and others are struggling. I hope all your favorites are “growing stronger” as the season matures.
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An Update on Customer Service From Tony Slagle, Deputy Executive Director
When I was named the Deputy Executive Director of TREC and the Deputy Commissioner of TALCB in August of this year, part of my expanded role at the agency was to focus on the agency operations, particularly the frontline customer service aspects of licensing and call center performance.
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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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Sunset Commission Staff Report Published
The Sunset Commission has published on its website the Staff Report for the Texas Real Estate Commission and the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. The Commission and Board will hold a joint meeting on October 12th in Austin to coordinate the Agency’s written response.
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AGENCY RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED AWARDS
Austin, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission and Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board is pleased to announce the agency has won two coveted Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) Communications Awards. One is for the new integrated communications plan, and the other for Board and Commission meeting communications.
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Using "Realty" In Team Names
At the Commission Meeting on Monday, August 13, 2018, the Commission adopted changes to the advertising rules (§535.155) allowing Broker team names to include the term "realty," so long as the other requirements for team names are met.
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Customer Service Matters: How the Agency Has Improved
Good news! TREC and TALCB have implemented a new tool to improve customer service. A new call tree system has been added to our main customer services lines. This new system allows callers to select from a list of options that will direct them to the best available person to address their issue to get the answers or help they need.
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Progress Report from Our Agency to Texas:
In early April, the Texas Real Estate Commission publicly apologized to Texans for the unacceptable quality of our customer service efforts and we promised to take a number of steps to do better. This is a progress report on what we have done so far and what additional steps remain to be implemented to restore and improve our service.
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The Sunset Review of the Texas Real Estate Commission and Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board
The mission and performance of the Texas Real Estate Commission and Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board are under review by the Legislature as required under the Texas Sunset Act. The Act provides that the Sunset Commission, composed of legislators and public members, periodically evaluate a state agency to determine if the agency is still needed and to explore ways to ensure that the agency's funds are well spent. Based on the recommendations of the Sunset Commission, the T
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To The Consumers and License Holders of Texas:
The Texas Real Estate Commission takes pride in providing high quality education and licensing services, and effective consumer protection across Texas. In recent months, there have been significant issues with the quality of customer service we are providing to consumers and to our license holders. I take personal responsibility for addressing these issues.
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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. -
License Exams Now Available On Military Installations
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce that the Texas real estate sales agent, broker, and inspector licensure exams are now conveniently available at over 200 Pearson VUE test centers as well as on military installations across the globe for service members, spouses, dependents, and contractors with authorized base access.