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Texas Register Preamble


The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) proposes amendments to 22 TAC §537.45, Standard Contract Form TREC No. 38-5, §537.47, Standard Contract Form TREC No. 40-7, and §537.56, Standard Contract Form TREC No. 49-0 in Chapter 537, Professional Agreements and Standard Contracts.

Texas real estate license holders are generally required to use forms promulgated by TREC when negotiating contacts for the sale of real property. These forms are drafted and recommended for adoption by the Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee, an advisory body consisting of six attorneys appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas, six brokers appointed by TREC, and one public member appointed by the governor.

The Broker Lawyer Committee recommended revisions to the contract addenda forms adopted by reference under the rules set out in Chapter 537. The revisions to the Notice of Buyer's Termination of Contract adds a requirement to include lender's written notice setting forth the reasons Property Approval was not obtained when terminating the contract for that reason. A new and an existing item that grant buyer termination rights under the contracts or addenda, and new notice language were also added.

The Committee rewrote Paragraph 2B, Property Approval, to clarify the intent of the paragraph and to include a timeframe for buyer to give seller notice and evidence of the lender's determination. The Committee also recommended a few clarifying revisions to the Third Party Financing Addendum and reformatted it so that it was consistent with other Commission promulgated addenda and changed the last sentence of Paragraph 5B so that it states "...brokers and sales agents provided under Broker Information."

The Committee revised the Addendum Concerning Right to Terminate Due to Lender's Appraisal to improve understanding and use of the form after receiving comments that it was hard to understand.

Kerri Lewis, General Counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed amendments are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for the state or for units of local government as a result of enforcing or administering the sections. There is no adverse economic effect anticipated for small businesses, micro-businesses, rural communities, or local or state employment as a result of implementing the proposed amendments. There is no significant economic cost anticipated for persons who are required to comply with the proposed amendments. Accordingly, no Economic Impact Statement or Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is required.

Ms. Lewis also has determined that for each year of the first five years the sections as proposed are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the sections will be better protections for consumers and increased clarity and understanding of the contract addenda.

For each year of the first five years the proposed amendments are in effect the amendments will not:

--create or eliminate a government program;

--require the creation of new employee positions or the elimination of existing employee positions;

--require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency;

--require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency;

--create a new regulation;

--expand, limit or repeal an existing regulation;

--increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to the rule's applicability;

--positively or adversely affect the state's economy.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Kerri Lewis, General Counsel, Texas Real Estate Commission, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, Texas 78711-2188 or via email to general.counsel@trec.texas.gov. The deadline for comments is 30 days after publication in the Texas Register.

The amendments are proposed under Texas Occupations Code, §1101.151, which authorizes the Texas Real Estate Commission to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer Chapters 1101 and 1102; and to establish standards of conduct and ethics for its license holders to fulfill the purposes of Chapters 1101 and 1102 and ensure compliance with Chapters 1101 and 1102.

The statutes affected by these amendments are Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1101. No other statute, code or article is affected by the amendments.



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