The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has adopted several form changes for the TREC contracts that became effective January 3, 2025. The forms are posted online with TREC for your use.

The changes listed below apply to all contract forms unless specified otherwise. If paragraph numbers are referenced, they correlate to the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) which is what we are focusing on in this article.

Paragraph 4 has been amended to add the term “geothermal” to the definition of Natural Resource Leases as a result of a 2023 law change that stipulates property owners own the geothermal energy below the surface of their land and can drill or produce that energy and associated resources.

Paragraph 6(C) has been updated to include the new optional T-47.1 declaration that can be used in lieu of the T-47 survey affidavit. This T-47.1 was also discussed in last month’s Closer’s Corner: T-47 Affidavit Changes and a New Friend (T-47.1) | Texas National Title.