TEXAS Real Estate Flashcards
When was TREC created?
1949
TREC administers the provisions of what act?
The License Act, passed in 1939
Out of TREC’s 9 commission members, how many are real estate brokers?
6
TREC’s commission members are appointed by who and approved by who?
Appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate
If a license holder fails to respond to a subpoena, what can TREC do?
TREC can file suit with the Attorney General to enforce the subpoena
An individual has how many years from the effective date of a contract or the date of the incident to file a complaint with TREC regarding the license holder involved?
4 years. Complaint must be written and signed
If a license holder, in violation, fails to respond to a summons from TREC, what will happen?
TREC will automatically schedule the revocation/ suspension hearing.
How are conflicts between license holders usually handled?
through the local Board of Realtors ©, by mediation, or in court
People engaged in the real estate brokerage business without having secured a license from TREC are guilty of and subject to what?
Class A Misdemeanor.
fine of not more than $4,000.00
or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
Trials for this would be held in the county court.
persons guilty of a violation of the License Act and whoever profited there from are liable for what?
up to 3 times the amount of money received
TREC may assess an administrative penalty of up to how much for violation of the license act?
$5,000/ day
by any person, either licensed or unlicensed
30 days to pay
Real Estate Recovery Trust Account
- created to pay aggrieved parties who win an uncollectible judgment from an agent/broker
- may collect treble damages up to $50,000 per lawsuit and up to $100,000 per license number
- When any amount is paid out against a licensee, the amount must be paid back with interest and the license can be suspended/revoked.
Who is exempt from licensing?
- Texas licensed attorneys can handle a real estate transaction for a client for a fee as long as they do not participate in broker to broker commission splits
- Anyone engaged in or carrying out foreclosure sales
- Administrators and executors of a will
- New home sales agents working for one builder or owner
- Cemetery lot sales agents
- A person selling his own property
- An auctioneer calling a real estate auction.
- Anyone selling mobile homes.
+ more obvious ones
Broker Assumed Business Name (DBA)
is another name for the broker’s business that can be used by all sponsored sales agents and brokers associated with this broker. Another name that indicates a broker’s line of business, e.g. property management or commercial is also a DBA.
Team Name
- used only by a team or group of one or more sponsored sales agents or brokers associated with this broker.
- Team names must end in “team” or “group”
- cannot contain the words “brokerage”, “company”, or “associates” or other similar terms.
Alternate Name
a name used by an individual license holder other than the name on the individual’s license, such as a middle name, married name, maiden name or nickname.
All three name types must be registered with TREC by when?
BEFORE you start to use them in advertisements
The Texas Appraisers Licensing and Certification board – TALCB
regulates real estate appraisers and administers the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act
How many times can you fail the real estate license exam before having to take additional course work and resubmit an application?
3
How many hours of extra course work do you have to take after failing the exam 3 times?
National - 30 hours
State - 30 hours
Both parts - 60 hours
What are the 3 licensing requirements?
- Must be 18 years of age, or older
- Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
- Criminal background check
How many course hours are required for a sales agent’s license?
180 hours
For how long is a real estate license valid for?
2 years
An on time renewal with late education completed within 60 days results in a penalty of how much?
$200
An on time renewal with late education completed after 60 days results in a penalty of how much?
$450 ($200 + $250)
TREC has how long to deny an application?
There is no time limit
What are the 6 canons of professional ethics and conduct included in the TX Administrative Code?
- Fidelity - license holder is fiduciary to client
- Integrity - prudence and caution to avoid misrepresentation
- Competency - knowledgeable
- Consumer Information Notice 1 - 3 - notifies public of recovery trust account
- Discriminatory Practices - no discrimination
- IABS -present at first substantive dialog
Consumer Information Notice 1 - 3
- Notifies the public of the recovery trust account
- Applies to both real estate license holders and inspectors
- Must be displayed in a prominent place in the broker’s office.
Grounds for suspension of license
- Guaranteeing future profits.
- Failing to specify a definite termination date in a Buyer’s Representation Agreement or a Listing contract that is not subject to prior notice.
- Selling real estate by lottery.
- Not advising a purchaser in writing to get an attorney’s opinion of title on the abstract or to obtain an Owner’s Title Policy.
- Placing a sign offering to sell, rent, or lease real estate without first obtaining the written permission of the owner.
- Must disclose if representing his spouse, parent, or child.
- Advertising without the brokerage information - broker or company name.
- Threatening to sue for a commission you have not earned.
- felony or a criminal offense involving fraud.
If a license is revoked by TREC, the individual must wait at least how long before trying to obtain a new license?
2 years
A license holder cannot write a contingency into a form, add “time is of the essence” to a form, or cross out provisions of a TREC form, except for when?
under the direction of a client
Who can accept earnest money/option fee deposits before depositing in some type of Escrow Account?
Title Companies, Attorneys and Brokers
Earnest money/option fee deposits must be delivered by when?
End of the 3rd day after the effective date of the contract; deadline may be extended if the 3rd day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday
If the broker accepts the earnest money/option fee or security deposits and is using his/her own escrow account the funds must be deposited by when?
By the close of business of the second business day after the broker receives the money.
A license holder may give a referral gift up to what value?
A license holder may give a referral gift up to $50 in value (not cash) to an unlicensed individual who
provides a referral. Gift cards that cannot be converted to cash are acceptable.
All ads must contain what?
- the broker or company name.
- the license holder’s name or team name.
- the broker’s name in at least 1/2 the size of the largest contact information for any sales agent, associated broker, or team name contained in the advertisement.
How should brokers or salespersons with a website provide information about the IABS and Consumer Information Notice?
Post a link to the forms in at least 10-point font.
A link in 12-point font can be used with the following wording: “TREC Information About Brokerage Services.”
10-point font “Texas Real Estate…..
How can an IABS form be provided to consumers?
personal delivery, mail or email
What are exceptions of times an IABS form must be provided?
Open Houses, meeting with someone already represented by another license holder, transaction is for less than 1 year, and no sale is being considered.
Senate Bill 489
- IABS at the first substantive dialogue
- Disclose representation of party at first
contact with another party or license holder
Senate Bill 489 allows a broker to act as an intermediary in a transaction if?
they have the written permission of both parties including how the broker will be paid
The time frame that a broker or delegated supervisor has to respond to clients, agents, or other brokers is what?
2 days
Who can earn and sue for a commission?
A broker
When changing to a new broker, a license holder
is authorized to engage in the business as soon as when?
as soon as the sponsorship forms have been mailed to
TREC. This is also true when re-activating an inactive license
TREC has promulgated sales contract forms for most residential properties including Farm and Ranch. They do not have forms for what?
Commercial transactions, Co-ops or mobile homes.
COMMUNITY PROPERTY
- is a STATUTORY estate in Texas.
- All property acquired AFTER MARRIAGE,
whether purchased or earned, is JOINTLY OWNED by the husband and wife. - INCOME on separate property is considered community property.
- An increase in value of separate property is NOT community property. (For example, if a spouse has a house worth $150,000 at the time of marriage and its value rises to $300,000, the increase is not community property.) HOWEVER, once community efforts, credit, or funds are used to increase the value or improve the property, community property rights accrue.
Which statement about TX Homestead protection is FALSE?
a. Homestead protection is automatic, and may not be waived in TX
b. Homestead protection will prevent foreclosure for unpaid property taxes
c. an urban homestead can be as large as 10 acres
d. homestead protection will prevent the debots of one spouse from causing the sale of the property
b. Homestead protection will prevent foreclosure for unpaid property taxes
Property taxes create the highest priority lien. Not covered by Homestead protection
John sold his waterfront property to some buyers and provided the Notice of Coastal Area Property. The house on the property was behind the vegetation line at the time of the sale. Several months after the sale, a hurricane cause a considerable amount of beach erosion and the structure is now seaward of the vegetation line. What is true?
a. the buyers can sue John for damages
b. the state can force the removal of the structure
c. the buyers can sue john and the real estate brokers involved in the transaction for damages
d. the buyers can file a claim with the Title Insurance Company for loss of property
b. the state can force the removal of the structure
According to the TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract, who is responsible for paying the owner policy of title insurance?
a. the buyer
b. the seller
c. the title company named in the contract
d. the party stipulated in the contract
d. the party stipulated in the contract
Who is responsible for filling in the effective date of the real estate sales contract?
BROKER
When must the option fee be delivered?
a. the buyer must pay his agent the option fee within 3 days of the effective date of the contract
b. the buyer must deliver the option within 3 days after the effective date of the contract
c. the buyer must pay his agent the option fee within 7 days of the date of the contract
d. the buyer must pay the seller the option fee within 7 days of the date of the contract
b. the buyer must deliver the option within 3 days after the effective date of the contract
John has listed the property at 17 Oak St. The sellers have received an accepted an offer from the buyers. The buyers have received the survey and it shows an encroachment that the sellers did not previously disclose. The buyers are not willing to purchase the property in this condition. What action on the part of the buyers must be taken?
a. Within 10 days, the buyers can notify the sellers that the contract is cancelled and demand a refund of their earnest money
b. the buyers can sue the sellers for breach of contract
c. the buyers have the number of days mentioned in the contract to address survey problems with the sellers
d. the buyers must submit the survey to the sellers, checking the box on the survey form, indicating their intent to cancel the transaction
c. the buyers have the number of days mentioned in the contract to address survey problems with the sellers
A buyer is unable to obtain credit approval as described in the Third Party Financing Addendum for Credit Approval. If the buyer provides the seller with written notice within the agreed-to number of days, which of the following is FALSE?
a. the contract is terminated
b. the buyer will lose his earnest money
c. the buyer is entitled to a return of his earnest money and there is no remedy for the seller
d. the buyer is not entitled to a refund of any option fee he paid
c. the buyer is entitled to a return of his earnest money and there is no remedy for the seller
When married, when can property remain separate?
- if it was acquired prior to marriage.
- if it was received during marriage by inheritance
- if it was gifted
Is Homestead a common law or statutory estate in Texas?
Statutory
The homestead of a family is protected from forced sale by all creditors except:
- mortgage
- property taxes (ad valorem taxes)
- mechanics and materialmen’s liens (construction projects)
- homeowner/property owner associations
When a homestead is foreclosed on for unpaid property taxes, the owner has how long to redeem the property?
2 years to redeem the property
When a homestead is foreclosed on for unpaid homeowner/property owner association fees, the owner has how long to redeem the property?
6 months
Urban homestead has a max size of how many acres?
10 connected acres
A rural homestead has a max. size of how many acres?
200 acres
On a property greater than 200 acres, the owners have the right of what in regard to the homestead?
Designate which land will be considered the homestead. The 200 acres do not have to be connected
How many homesteads can a person/family have?
1
Homestead exemption vs homestead protection
- a tax benefit. must apply for the exemption and must own and occupy the home on January 1st to qualify
- homestead protection is automatic
The Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) allows for the recovery of how much in damages?
triple damages
Negligent misrepresentation of material fact would be an example of a license holder in violation of what?
The Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA)
If a person dies instestate, property will be distributed according to the laws of what?
Laws of Descent and Distribution
Under the laws of descent, who has priority to the property?
Spouse and children
If a married couple has all adult children, and one spouse dies intestate, the surviving spouse can do what with the property?
sell his/her real property with only that spouse’s signature
Title by Devise
A party dies testate and the property is distributed to the heirs
Landlords must provide new locks on rental property no later than how many days after a new occupant takes possession of a leasehold premise?
7 days
When are foreclosure sales held in Texas?
First Tuesday of the month
Which foreclosures are judicial and non-judicial in Texas?
- most are non-judicial
- foreclosures for home equity loans are judicial
The Texas Veterans Land Board (TVLB) has how many programs for Texas veterans?
2 - the housing assistance program and loan program
TVLB housing assistance program
Allows veteran’s mortgage loan to be sold to the TVLB instead of to the secondary market.
Interest rate are significantly lower
TVLB loan program
- veterans can borrow up to $150,000 from the TVLB to purchase unimproved property.
- buyer must obtain a survey and pay 5% down for a 30-year loan.
- The minimum tract size is 1 acre.
Both TVLB programs are available for the surviving spouse of a veteran who……
- is listed as Missing in Action
- whose death was service connected