Maybe you’re taking a break from the business, planning to switch brokerages, or intended to temporarily terminate your sponsorship relationship. No matter the reason, awareness of your continuing education (CE) completion date will save you from surprises when you’re ready to go active again.

The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) met November 6 for its final quarterly meeting of 2023. TREC Chair Scott Kesner recognized a group of license holders who attended to earn Continuing Education (CE) credit. This was the first opportunity to earn CE credit by attending a quarterly TREC meeting under a rule change adopted by the Commission in August. Previously, license holders could only earn credit by attending the February TREC Meeting.

Starting October 1, active license holders whose licenses expire will be set to inactive status as of the expiration date, and any license relationships to sales agents and/or brokers will be terminated.

If you late renew—up to six months after your expiration date—your license will be renewed on inactive status.

These changes were adopted during the May TREC Meeting.

Effective October 1, 2023, sales agents renewing their license for the first time—both active and inactive—are required to complete an approved 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course as part of their 90 hours of Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE). This change was adopted during the May Commission meeting. Find out more about sales agents' first-time renewal requirements.

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

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.

The Texas Real Estate Commission has launched new enhancements to the online services portal to make it easier for easement or right-of-way agents and brokers to submit certain applications.

Easement or Right-of-Way Agent Online Applications

The Easement or Right-of-Way Agent or ERW Business initial applications are now available on the online services portal. This allows easement or right-of-way agents to apply online instead of submitting a paper application, although paper applications will still be accepted.

It’s been more than two years since the pandemic changed the real estate landscape and how you do business, and your license renewal may not be on your mind. But now is the time to ensure your license hasn’t been expired for more than two years, which requires you to take extra steps to renew.

On June 2, 2021, TREC inactivated broker business entity licenses in error.  Upon discovery of the error, staff worked to resolve the issue and all licenses were restored by Friday, June 4, 2021.  For purposes of full disclosure, we wanted our license holders to know the details of what occurred and what we are doing to avoid any similar incident in the future.