What must a Texas broker apply for if they have more than one place of business in Texas?

In Texas, when a broker operates more than one place of business, they are required to obtain a branch office license. This regulation ensures that each location is properly registered and compliant with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) standards. The branch office license is essential for maintaining the integrity of the brokerage's operations across multiple locations and allows each office to operate under the broker's license while adhering to applicable laws.

While a real estate license is necessary for brokers to practice in the state, it does not specifically address the needs of operating multiple offices. Similarly, a business license may cover general business operations but does not pertain specifically to real estate practices and the requirements set by TREC. A franchise license is not relevant in this context unless the broker is part of a franchised operation, and obtaining one would depend on the franchisor's specific requirements, rather than the state law regarding brokerage operations. Therefore, the need for a branch office license specifically addresses the situation of having multiple business locations in the real estate sector.