Texas Real Estate Agent Arrested? 

Your Real Estate License is Now At Risk.

You’re a Texas Real Estate Agent. You’re a professional. So what happens when you get arrested? How does this affect your license? If you are a real estate agent arrested in Texas you face not only criminal consequences but action by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) against your real estate license.

Your TREC license is tied to your honesty and integrity. An arrest for certain crimes can instantly trigger a license investigation.

Fact: TREC Can Discipline a Texas Real Estate Agent for an Arrest Alone

Many real estate agents in Texas think they only have to worry if they are convicted and not just an arrest. Wrong. TREC can investigate the conduct that led to the arrest, not just the final court outcome. Their goal is protecting the public, and they can suspend or revoke your license if they feel you lack the necessary “trustworthiness.”

TREC’s Danger Zones:

1. Crimes of Dishonesty (Moral Turpitude): This is the biggest threat. If the arrest of a Texas real estate agent involves fraud, forgery, theft, embezzlement, or anything suggesting you might lie to a client or misuse funds, TREC moves fast. The danger is immediate and severe.
2. DWI and Drug Charges: A first-time misdemeanor DWI is not an automatic license loss, but it will open an investigation into your judgment and potential substance abuse. If the charge is a felony DWI, the risk of suspension increases significantly.

The Reporting Rule: Arrest vs Conviction of a Texas Real Estate Agent

• Do I Report the Arrest? No, usually not immediately. TREC generally does not require you to report a simple arrest or charge for a misdemeanor.
• When Must I Report? You must report any conviction, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere (no contest) within 30 days of the finding. https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/report-crimes-within-30-days-or-face-penalties
• The Trap: TREC runs background checks when you renew your license. If they find a conviction you failed to report, they will use the Failure to Disclose as a separate charge, which is a fast track to license revocation. https://trerc.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/PDFs/Articles/2261.pdf

Failure to report is often worse than the original crime. If you are convicted and do not report the conviction, things will only get worse.

Texas Real Estate Agent Arrest: Two-Part Legal Defense Strategy

When you are arrested as a licensed real estate agent, you need a lawyer who fights on two fronts: the Criminal Court and the Licensing Board.

1. Priority 1: Fight for Dismissal. A clean dismissal of the criminal charge is the best defense against TREC. No criminal finding, little power for the board.
2. Priority 2: Negotiate the Outcome. If dismissal isn’t possible, we work to secure outcomes that minimize professional harm. This means avoiding moral turpitude findings and securing deferred adjudication, which may lead to an expunged or sealed record.
3. Priority 3: Strategic Disclosure. DO NOT talk to TREC or send any letter of explanation until your criminal defense lawyer has a clear strategy.

Real estate agents arrested in Texas faces serious consequences, but there is hope! While an arrest does not automatically result in license revocation, it triggers a serious legal and administrative battle that you should not navigate alone.

Paul Meyers at The Meyers Firm stands ready to act immediately to protect your career. As an experienced attorney who understands the parallel, high-stakes nature of criminal law and TREC investigations, Paul fights your criminal charges while strategically defending your professional license against potential sanctions.

The Bottom Line: Your career is already at stake. Do not wait for a conviction to seek help. Hire a lawyer immediately who understands how to protect your freedom and your license! /lawyers/paul-meyers/

Call The Meyers Firm NOW at 936-766-5171; meyerspaulesq@gmail.com; /