Below is the video from the March 2021 "Coffee with the Commission." TREC chair Scott Kesner and TREC ED Chelsea Buchholtz discussed the recently adopted and proposed rules and contract changes from February 2021.  Join us after each Commission meeting as we review all the latest from the Commission and answer your questions. 

During the February meeting of the Commission, several rule changes were proposed and adopted. Changes were also adopted to two forms. See the full agenda and materials on the Commission Meetings and Minutes page.

Proposed rules

Changes to the following rules were proposed:

The new inspector qualifying education and experience requirements for real estate and professional inspector licenses begin March 1, 2021. Applicants who have registered for qualifying courses prior to March 1, 2021, under the previous education requirements, will have until June 30, 2021, to complete all coursework and submit certificates with a completed application under those requirements. 

The Commission recently adopted changes to the following contract forms:

 Unimproved Property Contract

One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale)

New Home Contract (Incomplete Construction)

At the November quarterly meeting of the Commission, changes were adopted to several contract forms.

One of those changes involved how the option fee is handled and delivered in the contract. The following FAQs are intended to avoid confusion on this change.

For a review of other major changes to the forms, see the Commission’s article “Rule and Contract Updates from the November Commission Meeting.”

New inspector pre-licensing education and experience requirements begin March 1, 2021.  The new experience requirement includes a 40 hour Texas Practicum, which must consist of a minimum of five complete and in-person inspections.  In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, TREC will grant a temporary allowance for on-site inspections to take place virtually, as long as the Practicum instructor conducts inspections live and on-site, and the instructor and students are able to interact with each other in real-time through both audio and video. 

As of February 1, 2021 sales agents and brokers are 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 or activate a license.  

The newly updated Consumer Protection Notice (CPN) required for use as of February 1, 2021, is available on the Texas Real Estate Commission's website. 

Yes, if the sponsoring broker has delegated to you in writing the responsibility to assist the broker in complying with the Real Estate License Act and Commission rules. A license holder who leads, supervises, directs, or manages a team must also be delegated as a supervisor. A delegated supervisor may be either a sales agent or broker.

Did you know you are required to notify TREC within 30 days if you have been convicted of a crime even if you are already licensed?

The Texas Real Estate License Act states that if you have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or have been convicted of a felony or any criminal offense that involves fraud (including misdemeanors), you must disclose this to the Commission not later than the 30th day after the final conviction or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.