[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6504682,"mediaKeyId","5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c","parentId",5565102,"title","Inspector committee readies major SOP review and educational fixes; commission increases discipline in negligent inspection case","audioSeconds",6366,"startMs",1024000,"endMs",7390000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c&start=1024&end=7390","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c/thumbnail_1024000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6504682/Texas/Inspector-committee-readies-major-SOP-review-and-educational-fixes-commission-increases-discipline-in-negligent-inspection-case","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504682-544b93a28d422bb5b761618fe58f70e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406430&Signature=Nv3e5VyyYf7HKwBVohjvb-PM~uSVgEvEQQv1F9RONNTcbQYRympwtm09TuOSaGASxhVixdRlqyPYJx7Ng7vlmYtkqWyuhlEq2WZz4qsdZV~DxQy1UKfaHX4qKHT9KxX1Pl3I16Z8ODNt5nDxU2vNSngG1~B3zC6u-inolyrs4DXKIjdzaW~IxkLGQjPpbBUNcn3ZrwTxcp6bs5Piqh3s3EjmRGdBapO9O5A0hh-8i60wPxElAx3bqEa7zFORdqWYVFpVwDKadlbAlRVWeWRRLsxJeEF5l9JRsILRIUUCxkOCxksfDESjw-X~6TbJ06DNxSqpTvRbkfrjYSegWXsWXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Real Estate Commission","date","2025-08-12T18:58:23Z","article","The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee reported progress on a multiyear Standards of Practice review and changes to prelicensure practicum requirements, and the full commission adopted a disciplinary outcome for a licensed inspector whose report failed to disclose foundation and rot issues.

Inspector committee work
Committee chair Lee Warren told commissioners the Standards of Practice (SOP) subcommittee has been reviewing every section and is nearing an initial recommendation for the October inspector committee meeting; if the committee transmits a recommendation it could come to the November full commission meeting. Warren said a new promulgated inspection form is likely after more than three years without form changes.

Education and practicum changes
Warren described a proposed rule change that would require students to complete prelicensure coursework before starting the 40‑hour practicum (ride‑along) portion of inspector training. The committee reported that mentors for the practicum would be required to hold an inspector license for at least five years and have completed at least 200 verified inspections. Warren said the change was intended to ensure trainees have enough classroom background to apply SOPs correctly in the field.

Concerns about multi‑inspector firms and corporate licensing
The committee discussed the growth of inspection companies with multiple inspectors and flagged consumer‑protection concerns when companies refer work to connected service providers. Warren said a corporate license for inspection companies is under consideration but would likely require legislative change.

Enforcement case and commission action
The commission considered a proposed final decision in a disciplinary case involving licensed inspector Sterling Raphael Reed (inspection performed June 2021). Staff presented evidence that Reed’s inspection report omitted key information, did not provide a written opinion on foundation performance, and failed to list the inspector’s name and license number on the report. A follow‑up inspection documented wood rot and subfloor damage that predated the sale, staff said.

An administrative law judge (ALJ) recommended a $6,000 administrative penalty and a one‑year probated suspension. Enforcement staff urged the commission to increase the probated suspension to two years to better reflect the seriousness of the deficiencies. Commissioners voted to adopt the PFD with staff’s modification: a $6,000 administrative penalty and a two‑year fully probated suspension.

Why it matters
The inspector committee’s SOP review and the recommended practicum timeline could change how new inspectors are trained and how inspection reports document conditions. The Reed discipline underscores enforcement consequences when reports omit required opinions or fail to identify inspectors properly.

Ending
The inspector committee expects to transmit its SOP recommendation to the full commission in October, with possible rule or form proposals coming afterward. Enforcement staff said E&O insurance and civil remedies are options for consumers seeking monetary relief; the inspector‑recovery fund is limited in scope and winding down.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Meeting 08.11.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Inspector Committee reported a near‑complete initial review of the Standards of Practice and proposed a rule to require prelicensure coursework be finished before the 40‑hour practicum; the commission also increased the probation period to two years and imposed a $6,000 fine in a negligent‑inspection disciplinary case.","taxTitle","Texas Real Estate Commission, Boards & Commissions, Executive, Texas","taxId",36448,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6504687,"TREC committee backs major changes to broker licensing — commission votes to propose rules",5444,911000,6355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c&start=911&end=6355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c/thumbnail_911000.jpg","/articles/6504687/Texas/TREC-committee-backs-major-changes-to-broker-licensing-commission-votes-to-propose-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504687-8831ee18249224fb4e03068876dee2bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406430&Signature=XgmCVwp7ZuDD2Ph7r3txmFy8Rt-vGF26jdeVUocUPh6XR3aogSy28AI~YzTlCV35850tu~g2zLYrOqQsFrswpVo9Ivz~uJ5Y5UuFzMj5qdNs~Ohbm0IVZ0wGNh1uO3dH~aJ-Gij49~4VrrQcUzAvb9Z68KuCXl6uy2vpcS9e54zwEL0fW7bkEg6w7ztQdtG1rU48-yTmFW4lPb52Tkaw7qbHQ2af-rszmgkHGNKbRSvx-3UdefAxrnFCGqECuqyxKy1Ma20bwfDjbZ8hAP1X-JGjWJrncC0mLB073MsVG6BjV1CQLqY-kGt-MJB7FZEDJTMYRgVzaOm~vunUWMCe8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Real Estate Commission moved on Thursday to propose rule changes that would substantially alter the education and experience pathway to a broker license.

The Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee and staff presented a package of recommended changes to commissioners that would: increase minimum experience points required for a broker license from 360 to 720; cap the real‑estate‑related education credit for a bachelor’s degree at 300 of the 630 required hours; allow an applicant to substitute experience for education hours above the new minimum (up to 300 hours); change property‑management experience calculations to a per‑property‑per‑year basis; and shift delegated‑supervision credit to a points‑per‑transaction model.

Why it matters: If adopted after public notice and comment, the changes would raise the amount of verifiable field experience required to become a broker in Texas while limiting how much non‑real‑estate coursework can be counted in lieu of experience. The changes were framed by staff as an attempt to align licensing with current brokerage practices and to reduce reliance on substitutable academic credits.

What the commission did
General counsel and staff explained the proposed text and said it reflects recommendations vetted by the Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee. After discussion the commission voted to authorize staff to submit those proposed amendments for publication and public comment. The rule text proposed would change 22 TAC §535.56 (education and experience requirements for a broker license) and related provisions.

Details from committee presentations
Denise Sample, director of licensing, summarized the BRAC recommendations and the draft rule language, describing the points‑per‑transaction approach to delegated supervision and the revision to the property‑management calculation. She noted that the changes would permit up to 300 hours of substituted experience above the 720 minimum, and that the bachelor’s‑degree credit would no longer satisfy the full 630 hours.

The Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) and BRAC said the proposed changes emerged after reviewing the post‑legislative housekeeping bill (Senate Bill 1968), which also gives TREC new flexibility around some qualifying education rules. ESAC members noted related discussions about whether to move the 30‑hour brokerage course into prelicensure now that the commission has rulemaking flexibility.

Next steps
The commission’s vote simply authorizes publication of the proposed changes in the Texas Register and starts the formal public‑comment period; final adoption would require a later vote after staff reviews comments and prepares a response. Staff said commissioners would see the full adoption package, with public comments, at a future meeting.

Ending
Commissioners said the changes are intended to tie broker licensure more tightly to verifiable experience, and the commission asked staff to follow the normal notice‑and‑comment process before any final adoption.","The commission voted to propose rule changes that would increase broker experience requirements to 720 points, cap bachelor’s‑degree credit to 300 education hours, allow limited substitution of experience for education, and change how property‑management and delegated‑supervision experience are counted.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6504692,"TREC delays Realm rollout as budget shortfall makes fee increase likely",2133,2665000,4798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c&start=2665&end=4798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565102-17a72df4000e59b573f273b31123046c/thumbnail_2665000.jpg","/articles/6504692/Texas/TREC-delays-Realm-rollout-as-budget-shortfall-makes-fee-increase-likely","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504692-669162fa1d7022fd582b2e086c7740f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406430&Signature=gEcilU7eZVNltd-uqglRezTFOv21FND1ufRh9KS22IR6bgPVCHxwVHKlkcbVgiU8Iw9a5s4udkhy2mMv2mx0O95A5RZS3XkLHDTopq5LCRZr3n0ZA7rKOWHU3QPqltWvxRAVK0wIkXSf-VQYykbSV-rdaMqxmuoyfh4LU3bjSfkY7uELBiF~Q5AzdADofVbs6uCXzgfMvwfXb-DJmb-M9JnbzQ4YW7fEfJhaS3e-moTZBHzNH7T0zjPRlcFs5dbeC8QndlO9Kxulk0u5pg1sgH~ZjvN~RO~c1ZAUJwywYk-Di~y2APH51YlAlXSsofMiDlpVK-Byt8H-C-Hj17PuQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Real Estate Commission on Thursday delayed the public launch of its new license-management system — called Realm — citing ongoing data conversion and external-system integration problems, and approved a FY‑2026 budget that projects multimillion‑dollar operating shortfalls.

Commission Executive Director Chelsea Buchholz told commissioners the agency is doing additional test conversions and integration checks before going live: “Data conversion and also integration are our current challenges,” she said, and staff are running a small mock conversion “to determine its success to then determine next steps.” Buchholz said she remains “hopeful for a go live later this year” but gave no firm date.

Why it matters: TREC’s licensing fees make up roughly 90% of agency revenue, so continuing declines in new license applications and exam revenue have an outsized effect on the agency’s finances. Commissioners were told that without a fee increase or other changes, the agency will draw down reserves and likely need deeper cuts after 2027.

Key budget numbers and vote
- Fiscal‑year‑to‑date (10 months) revenue: $11,300,000 (about 81.8% of projections). Expenditures: $15,100,000 (about 71.2% of budgeted spending). That yielded an operating loss of $3,700,000 for the period, Chief Financial Officer Renata Williams reported.
- The FY‑2026 budget the commission approved projects $13,200,000 in revenue and $20,300,000 in expenditures, a $7,000,000 operational shortfall that would be covered by drawing on fund balance and reserves. The plan shows reserves declining sharply across FY‑2026–FY‑2028 without a reversal in revenue trends.

Commissioners voted to approve the FY‑2026 budget, the FY‑2026 investment policy and the FY‑2026 budget and financial administration policy during the meeting. Chair Mark Woodruff said staff had explored expense reductions and that the agency had already removed 9.6 vacant full‑time positions from the FY‑2026 budget, producing about $488,000 in salary savings. Williams also noted a proposed 3% merit pool for employee raises in the approved budget.

Realm implementation and costs
Buchholz and Tom Watson, TREC’s director of information technology, said the technical problems center on converting legacy records and ensuring the new system communicates correctly with external systems (for example, Department of Public Safety fingerprinting and exam vendors). Watson said Realm will allow more applications to be taken online once stable and that the current online‑transaction measures will change after the rollout.

The project is budgeted as a multi‑year capital effort: staff presented a total Realm budget of about $5.4 million, of which $3.1 million had been recognized and roughly $2.3 million remained tied to future deliverables. Buchholz said the project remains “on target to be within budget,” but acknowledged the launch timing was revised to protect data integrity.

Customer service, staffing and next steps
Customer relations director Robert Hood reported average phone wait times of about 1 minute, 28 seconds in June and July thanks to recent hires; the contact center handled roughly 14,000–15,000 calls per month in the period reported. Buchholz said the commission plans a demonstration of Realm during the afternoon workshop and that staff will provide ongoing implementation updates to commissioners.

The budget vote was taken after staff presentations and discussion. Commissioners were told the Governor’s Office has not yet acted on the agency’s preliminary request for a fee increase. The commission approved the FY‑2026 budget as presented.

Ending
Buchholz told the commission she will provide a more detailed implementation timeline as conversion testing completes. The commission scheduled a workshop later in the day that included a first look at Realm and implementation work arising from the recent legislative session.","The Texas Real Estate Commission delayed launch of its new license-management portal \"Realm\" because of data-conversion and integration issues, and commissioners approved a FY‑2026 budget that projects large operating losses without fee increases, staff cuts or other changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Inspector committee readies major SOP review and educational fixes; commission increases discipline in negligent inspection case

TREC committee backs major changes to broker licensing — commission votes to propose rules

TREC delays Realm rollout as budget shortfall makes fee increase likely