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BECOMING A BROKER ISN'T SO EASY ANYMORE

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with CIDER Properties

NEW YEAR, NEW RULES FOR BROKER APPLICANTS

When I obtained my broker license years ago, I didn't have to show any documentation of being a full time salesperson. Thank goodness that the rules have changed!

As of Jan. 1, applicants for a broker license must have four years of active experience as a licensed salesperson, up from the previous two-year requirement.

Under this new rule, which was adopted last fall by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), an applicant must document experience in each of four years out of the five-year period immediately before the application is filed, or be able to satisfy these requirements by the end of one year after the application is filed.

While an applicant has up to a year after filing an application to meet all education and experience requirements, an applicant cannot take the broker examination until all education and experience requirements have been met.

“As a result of these rule changes, consumers in the state of Texas can be more confident when working with real estate brokers in the future," said TREC Administrator Douglas Oldmixon.

"These new requirements will ensure that real estate brokers will have the broad based knowledge that comes from transactional experience.”

View the TREC press release here.

Comments(6)

Donald Reich
Madison Specs - New Rochelle, NY
Cost Segregation Specialist

It's great that they are now making it harder to be a broker, but I think they have to tighten the standards to becoming an agent. There are too many agents out there who have no idea what they are doing, and they make the rest of us look bad. If we had fewer agents, and those agents were more educated, more professional, it would be better for the industry and better for our clients!

Jan 03, 2012 02:03 PM
Ava Anderson
A-Z Atlanta Realty - Snellville, GA
Selling Atlanta from A-Z!

In Georgia it's become more difficult to be a Broker as well.  They have changed the way the testing is done and now you have to understand the decisions you will have to make as a Broker so it requires some real experience.  In my opinion this is good for all concerned.

Jan 03, 2012 02:15 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

In Indiana there is a bill infront of Legislators this session that requires all agents to be Brokers.  After 3 years (after the bill passes) all the salespersons will automatically become Brokers.  All citizens attending real estate classes will have more study time and a more indepth state test.  I think Principal Brokers will have additional education requirements also.

Jan 03, 2012 02:22 PM
Tanya Redic
CIDER Properties - Tyler, TX
e-Pro, SFR

Donald, I agree.  It has been too easy to obtain a real estate license . . . . PERIOD.  I've found that the agents that have no clue, work for a broker that has no clue.  

Ava, It sounds like Georgia & Texas are on the same page.  

Evelyn, I don't understand the logic behind all agents having to become a broker.  However, I do understand the need for more education requirements.

I think every 2 years for MCE should be changed and requiring more than legal update & ethics.

Jan 03, 2012 03:32 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Having gotten THREE real estate broker licenses * this is my LAST one.  I took the LAST broker course in Hawaii BEFORE calculators could be used....UGH!

Jan 03, 2012 10:37 PM
Tanya Redic
CIDER Properties - Tyler, TX
e-Pro, SFR
What other states, Wallace?
Jan 03, 2012 11:24 PM