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  • ESAC reviews rule language, recommends 30-hour brokerage course for sales agents

    The Texas Real Estate Commission's Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) met April 3.

    ESAC addressed comments received regarding proposed changes to 22 §TAC 535.64, Content Requirements for Qualifying Real Estate Courses.  TREC staff clarified that the rule proposal simply cleans up the rule language to remove the references to topics required for each course, rather, pointing specifically to each qualifying course approval form to define content. 

  • What to expect at Houston May 16 TREC meeting

    The Texas Real Estate Commission is stepping out of its Austin headquarters to pay Houston a visit. On May 16, the Commission will meet at 9 a.m. inside the Century Ballroom II of the DoubleTree by Hilton-Houston Greenway Plaza. 

  • Appointees officially confirmed to the Texas Real Estate Commission

    Headshots of Chance Brown, Renee Harvey Lowe, Stuart Bernstein. They are TREC's newest members.

    The Texas Real Estate Commission is pleased to welcome three new members. Chance Brown, Renee Harvey Lowe, and Stuart Bernstein were confirmed by the Texas Senate on April 26, 2023. Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed them for terms set to expire on January 31, 2029. 

    Harvey Lowe and Brown will both serve as broker members, Bernstein will serve as a public member of TREC.

     

  • Message From TREIC Chair Lee Warren-April '23

    The Inspector Committee met on April 18, and there were a number of items that were discussed. Starting off the meeting, Mike Morgan was elected as the Vice Chair to fill the vacancy from Scott Regan. 

  • TREIC April Meeting Recap: New Evaluation Form, Licensing Rule

    TREC staff sitting at a table with TREIC members at the April 18 Inspector Committee meeting.

    The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee (TREIC) met April 18.

  • Broker Responsibility Working Group April meeting recap includes proposed rule changes

    The Broker Responsibility Working Group (BRWG) met April 12.

  • New Process to Streamline Advertising Complaints

    Around 1% of Texas Real Estate Commission license holders are the subject of a complaint, and in 2022, slightly more than 5% of all complaints received by TREC were related to advertising issues.

  • Don’t Get Tricked by These Recent Rental Scams

    It sounds like an ideal scenario if you’re a landlord or listing agent for a residential lease: A licensed sales agent submits a prospective tenant’s application to you with proof of a clean background check and great credit report. But is that tenant’s agent making life easier for you, or is it a scam?

  • What Every License Holder Needs to Know About Going Inactive

    An unexpected illness, a new opportunity, a change in the market, or a change in your personal life: These are all common reasons why Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) license holders may take a break from the business.

    Whether your break is planned or unexpected, setting your sales agent, broker, or inspector license to inactive status before your renewal or renewing as inactive is the best move if you want return to the real estate business in the future. Here’s why.

  • Message from the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee Chair

    The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee (TREIC) met in January, and there were a couple of items from that meeting that were forwarded to the Commissioners for approval. The first was a modification of a rule regarding when multiple check boxes are used. This rule makes it clear that if an inspector chooses more than one check box, that an explanation must be provided.

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  • From the Chair - November 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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    Hello to each of you. I hope you and your families are safe and well.   

  • 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

  • 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.

  • From the Chair - July 2020

    Last weekend we celebrated our country's 244th birthday.

  • 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.   

  • TREC Statement on Events at the US Capitol

    The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has received many comments and requests related to license holders’ involvement in the events that occurred at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Commission is limited in the action it may take against real estate license holders by the Real Estate License Act, the

  • TREC Launches Next Phase of Education Provider Audit Program

    AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) will launch the second phase of the education provider audit program in January 2021.  TREC rules give staff authority to audit education providers and permits staff to conduct on-site audits without prior notice.  Staff may also enroll in and attend a course without identifying themselves as TREC employees. 

  • TREC Purchasing Manager Named Woman of the Year

    AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce Regina Durden, purchasing manager, was named “Woman of the Year” by the Executive Women in Texas Government (EWTG). The announcement of this prestigious award was made at the November 2020 EWTG conference. Ms. Durden is the first recipient of this award at the Texas Real Estate Commission. Congratulations go to Ms.

  • Updates to the Continuing Education (CE) Posting System

    The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to announce the updated CE Posting System.

  • TREC Announces New Deputy General Counsel

    AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is pleased to welcome Abby Lee as Deputy General Counsel of the Texas Real Estate Commission effective October 20, 2020.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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  • Providers: Contracts Courses Required for License Renewal

    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.  For your convenience, and the convenience of your students, a “contracts” search filter is available on the Approved Real Estate CE Course List, which allows license h

  • Providers: TREC Launches Next Phase of Education Provider Audit Program in 2021

    The TREC Education & Examinations Division will launch the next phase of the education provider audit program in January of 2021.  TREC rule §535.67(a) gives staff the authority to conduct on-site audits without prior notice as well as enroll in and attend courses without identifying themselves as

  • Helpful Reminders and Tips for Education Providers

    Course Applications and Fees

    When preparing course applications, be sure they are filled out completely, all necessary documents are included and the fee is accurately calculated.  Course applications and fees received separately will be sent back to the provider. 

    Course Evaluations

    All providers are required to provide each student with a course evaluation form approved by the Commission or Board.

  • Exam Proctoring Requirements Have Not Changed

    Qualifying course examinations must satisfy TREC rule 535.65(h).  This means:

  • ESAC Meeting Update 

    The Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) met on October 5, 2020, to continue to diligent work of the committee.  

  • Caution: Don't Take CE and Drive

    Classroom courses for real estate license holders and inspectors require the instructor and the student to interact face-to-face and in real time, either in the same physical location, or though technology.  Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many courses that historically were offered in a classroom, are now being offered virtually.  In fact, the number of classroom courses taught virtually has skyrocketed. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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