TREC License Lookup: A Comprehensive Guide to Checking the Status of a Real Estate License in Texas
One of the largest states in the country, Texas’ sheer size and land availability opens up numerous possibilities for commercial and residential real estate investments.
Texas’s booming real estate market is home to thousands of experienced as well as new real estate professionals.
Agents, salespeople, brokers, realtors, appraisers and escrow officers - the overall market is lucrative for these professionals who want to make a profitable career in the industry.
Did you know that Texas is rated as the 9th largest real estate market in the U.S.?
With a strong job outlook, affordable housing market and favorable weather, the demand for real estate is on a rise.
Additionally, the state is diverse and varied in terms of choices of locations and neighborhoods, offering something for everyone, irrespective of their lifestyle and budget.
Due to factors providing massive tailwinds, Texas has emerged as one of the most sought after markets for home buyers and investors.
To make the most of this growing demand, real estate agents and brokers are lapping up the opportunity to help homebuyers and real estate investors grab a slice of their share of the real estate pie.
So, what does this mean for homebuyers who are interested in purchasing a home in the state of Texas?
A fast growing real estate market like Texas is exciting and rewarding for both buyers and sellers, often leading them to make uninformed, hasty decisions.
Many unregistered and unlicensed real estate agents and brokers in Texas try to take unfair advantage of this, often causing harm to their clients via misrepresentation and other unlawful deeds.
To help protect their rights and reduce the risk of fraud, homebuyers and real estate investors should make use of the Texas real estate license search service provided by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).
In this article, we are going to dive deep into how the Texas Real Estate Commission is helping to protect the rights and interest of homeowners with the help of a license lookup service.
If you are planning to buy a home or know someone who does, reading this article can help you save yourself from any unexpected, unpleasant surprise in the real estate market of Texas.
What is TREC?
Texas Real Estate Commission or TREC is the state’s leading real estate agency and authority that governs and subsides over real estate functions and transactions.
Located in Austin, Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) comprises nine members in total, out of which all are appointed by the Governor of Texas with concurrence from the Senate of Texas.
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is in charge of establishing the laws, regulations, guidelines and code of conduct for real estate professionals.
TREC is the highest authority which is responsible for enforcing the licensing and regulation laws for the following:
- Real Estate Agents
- Real Estate Brokers
- Real Estate Realtors
- Real Estate Appraisers
- Real Estate Inspectors
- Real Estate Education and Tuition Providers
- Timeshare Developers
- Easement or Right-of-Way Developers
In addition to being a regulatory agency for real estate professionals in Texas, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is also the highest jurisdiction for real estate disputes, court cases and consumer complaints.
TREC is responsible for establishing and enforcing the laws, rules and regulations through its enforcement division.
TREC sets the standards and best practices to protect the rights and interests of consumers as well as promote the use of ethical, fair trustworthy practices in the industry.
TREC is responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations which regulate and govern the workings of real estate professionals, such as - agents, brokers, realtors, appraisers and home inspection officers to name a few.
Needless to say, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is both the gatekeeper and the watchdog which protects the Texas’ real estate industry from frauds, misdeeds, unethical practices and criminal cases.
TREC helps strike and maintain the balance between growth and success without compromising on honesty and transparency.
Any real estate professional who wants to work legally in the state of Texas must obtain a state approved license and duly follow the standards set by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Why is TREC License Lookup Important?
Whether you are a homeowner, homebuyer or an investor, your primary objective is to safeguard your interests in every real estate transaction.
In order to do so, you must ensure that you are working with licensed, professional and ethical agents and brokers from the industry.
Texas is home to thousands of real estate professionals all across the state in different markets. Amidst this large pool of professional talent, some unlicensed and unethical people also mix in.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find out whether you are working with a professional real estate agent and broker or not. This is where TREC license lookup comes in handy for sellers, buyers and real estate investors.
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has always stressed the importance of working with trusted, professional and licensed real estate professionals.
It recommends consumers to not trust unverified, unlicensed agents and brokers as they are not qualified and authorized to provide quality services to clients.
This is why the commission promotes awareness and knowledge amongst homebuyers and investors to always conduct a background check and find out whether you are hiring a trustworthy professional for your needs.
TREC wants every consumer to feel confident before, during or after going through a real estate transaction.
Be it buying or selling, TREC encourages consumers to work only with licensed, ethical professionals and real estate firms to ensure maximum transparency.
Here’s a list of information you can find out with a TREC license search for free:
- License Number
- Licensee’s Name
- Educational History
- Contact Details
- License Status
Therefore, a TREC license search works as a means for consumers to protect themselves and ensure they are putting their hard-earned money to good use by working with verified professionals.
Are planning to buy a property in the Lone Star state or know someone who is interested in investing in Texas’ real estate market?
It is important to be aware of how to perform a license status check before hiring an agent, broker or a real estate firm.
How to Perform a TREC License Lookup
Whether you are a real estate professional or a consumer looking for a way to find the details and verify a license, there are many ways to go about completing the task.
Now if this is the first time you are reading about a license lookup search, do not worry as the process is not complicated at all.
Let’s follow the steps required to check license status in Texas.
Accessing the TREC Website
The first step in starting a background and license status check is to simply visit the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) website.
Accessing the website is pretty straightforward. You can open any internet browser of your choice and run a search with the keyword - TREC official website.
Alternatively, you can directly type in the TREC online address www.trec.texas.gov/ to get on to the website.
Navigating the TREC License Lookup Page
Once you are on the official website of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), then you need to navigate to the search page.
Once the search page is open, you will see an input box using which you can feed in the available details.
Begin your search by entering your zip code. Then enter the licensee’s name and license number for whom you want to run a lookup search for.
Simply press search and wait for the website to display the relevant results and details associated with the license number you provided.
If you are looking to find details about a real estate firm, you can easily filter out the local agencies in your area.
Based on the displayed search results, you can then scout for the most suitable options and find even more specific information using the available search filters.
Search Options for TREC License Lookup
While doing the Texas real estate license search, you can easily find detailed information about a specific real estate professional's license number or name.
As a consumer, it is your right to find out the required information about any real estate professional in Texas.
With the TREC website, you can search using advanced options to find out details on the basis of license type (agent, broker, realtor or inspector), zip code, educational qualifications, email address, city, locality.
Based on your desired criteria and filter choices, the TREC website will display the relevant search results to you.
Understanding the License Status Definitions
So you have learned how to do a real estate license lookup in Texas and now you can easily find out the details you need to do a verification check.
The next question that arises is - how to understand the different license types and figure out exactly what is meant by the industry definitions?
Understanding license status is the basic step to learning more about a licensee's background and experience. Broadly speaking, there are three main types of licenses you will find:
- Active License: If a licensee’s status is shown as active on the TREC website, it implies that the license holder has an active real estate license with the required education qualifications. Additionally, an active license status also means that the licensee is registered with the TERC and is authorized to practice in the state of Texas.
- Inactive License: If you see an inactive license status on the TREC website, then it implies that the licensee has obtained a state approved license, but they have not yet activated their license. In order to activate a license, a real estate licensee must find a sponsoring broker. Once a broker registers a licensee, their status is updated to active.
- Expired License: If a license status is mentioned as expired, then it implies that the real estate licensee failed to renew their license before the expiration date. An expired license also means that the real estate professional is not legally allowed to practice in the state of Texas.
Now that you know the different types of real estate licenses, it should be easier for you to understand what you are searching for.