(item added 09/04/2009)

The Texas Property Code was amended during the 81st Legislative Session to abolish the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC). Effective September 1, 2009, new homes will no longer be registered with the TRCC or subject to its dispute resolution processes. At its August 17, 2009, meeting, TREC took emergency action to update the New Home Contract forms for incomplete construction and completed construction to reflect these changes. The new forms are 23-9 and 24-9. TREC also repealed form 43-0 (Addendum Containing Required Notices Under §5.016, §420.001 and §420.002, Texas Property Code), which is no longer required to be provided to buyers of new homes. Forms 23-8, 24-8, and 43-0 may no longer be used. Learn more about the TRCC's sunset process.

(item added 09/04/2009)

Currently instructors of TREC's Legal Update and Ethics MCE courses meet minimum requirements by registering with TREC as an MCE or Core instructor and obtaining certification by attending an instructor training course. Amendments adopted at the August 17, 2009 Commission meeting require that prior to attending an instructor training course a person must have Core instructor approval with three years experience in teaching or training AND a college degree in the subject area of real estate or five years professional experience in the subject areas of Principles of Real Estate, Law of Agency, and Law of Contracts; or the equivalent of those requirements as determined by the Commission.

(item added 09/04/2009)

The Commission adopted amendments to increase renewal fees to pay for new projects and TREC appropriations authorized by the 81st Legislature in 2009. The amendments increase the timely renewal fees by $8 for a 2-year license ($4 for a 1-year license). For late renewal of a license that has been expired 90 days or less, late renewal fees will increase $12 for a 2-year license ($6 for a 1-year license). For late renewal of a license that has been expired more than 90 days, fees will increase $16 for a 2-year license ($8 for a 1-year license). The fee increase includes Corporations and LLCs.

(item added 07/23/2009)

Effective October 1, 2009, the National portion of the Real Estate Broker and Salesperson exams will change. Exam revisions include changes in the numbers of items across topic areas, an increased emphasis on items that require application of knowledge rather than simple recall/recognition, and scenario-based questions in the Broker exam. A revised Candidate Information Brochure (CIB) will be available at the PSI website.

(item added 07/09/2009)

The Texas Real Estate Commission invites applicants to serve on the Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee for a six year term. The terms of two members expire on August 31, 2015 and it is anticipated that these two positions will be filled at the August 17, 2009 meeting of the Commission. Individuals wishing to be considered for appointment should send a letter and resume to Mr. John Eckstrum, Chairman, Texas Real Estate Commission, PO Box 12188, Austin, TX 78711-2188.

(item added 06/15/2009)

TREC has recently learned about a scam in which a person pretending to be an agency employee may call a licensee with a story about a problem with the licensee's license status. The caller then offers to resolve the problem by asking for the licensee's credit card number to make a payment by phone.

DO NOT RESPOND to requests from TREC asking you to provide personal information, including credit card numbers, social security numbers, or any other identifying information. TREC does not accept any payments by phone and will never make such a request. Please remember to always carefully guard your personal data. If you receive a suspicious call from someone purporting to be from TREC, we recommend that you ask the caller for his or her name, then hang up, call TREC at the number on the website, and ask to be transferred to that person.

If you have received a suspicious call involving TREC and gave out personal information or otherwise feel your security may have been compromised, please first file a report with your local police department and then notify TREC of the situation.

(item added 06/01/2009)

The Commission has adopted amended rules on an emergency basis to comply with new legislation that will increase fees by $2.50 per year per salesperson license or renewal. This increase will benefit the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The amendments, which will become effective June 2, 2009, increase the following fees:

Inactive Real Estate Salesperson License from $94.50 to $97.00

Timely Renewal of a Salesperson License under SAE from $51.00 to $53.50

Timely Renewal of a Salesperson License under MCE from $102.00 to $107.00

Late Renewal of a Salesperson License

• SAE expired 90 days or less: $64.50 to $67.00
• SAE expired more than 90 days: $79.50 to $82.00
• MCE expired 90 days or less: $129.00 to $134.00
• MCE expired more than 90 days: $159.00 to $164.00

Salesperson License by Current or Previous Broker from $92.50 to $95.00

If you are within your 90-day renewal period, you may renew online by June 1 or postmark your complete renewal by June 1 to avoid the increase. Applications or renewals postmarked on or after June 2 will be rejected if the new fee is not paid.

(item added 9/24/2008)

Printable Press Release

John Eckstrum, Chairman of the Texas Real Estate Commission, and Clint Sayers, Chairman of the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, announced jointly that the Commission and Board have adopted emergency rules for licensees who work or live in the 29 counties declared by Governor Perry to be disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Ike. Real estate brokers, salespersons, home inspectors, and appraisers who live in these counties and were impacted by Hurricane Ike will have an additional four months to renew licenses expiring between September 30, 2008, and February 28, 2009. They will have additional time to file renewal applications, pay renewal fees, complete required continuing education, and provide required fingerprints. Also, pending license applicants whose applications expire between September 7, 2008, and February 28, 2009, will be given an additional four months for the successful completion of their required examinations. The emergency rules that apply to real estate brokers, salespersons, and inspectors are found (each marked in red as Emergency Rule) on the TREC Rules page.

For the list of affected counties, and more details, please see the Hurricane Ike FAQs page.

(item added 6/18/2008)

Licensees that renew on or after June 30, 2008 will be subject to the changes in Section 535.92(f) of the Commission rules regarding late MCE. Brokers and salespersons who renew active without having completed MCE requirements prior to the renewal date must pay a $200 deferral fee and must complete the required MCE within 60 days of the effective date of the renewed license. The license will remain active. Failure to pay the deferral fee and complete the required MCE hours within the 60-day period will result in the license being placed on INACTIVE status during which time a licensee must cease doing business. If such a licensee is a broker, all salespersons sponsored by that broker will revert to inactive status. To return to active status a licensee must complete the required MCE hours; pay the deferral fee of $200 AND a $250 penalty (total $450); as well as submit the appropriate form, “Application for Broker to Return to Active Status” or “Salesperson Sponsorship Form”, and $20 filing fee.