Pick any excuse, but I was about a month late renewing my driver's license. Worse, there seemed to be no upcoming breaks in the calendar for me to go stand in line at the driver's license bureau. Then I heard that Texas has done something incredibly progressive - making driver's license renewal, along with a host of other resident services, available online.

In less time than it takes to fix a cup of coffee, I looked up 'Texas Department of Public Safety' on Google.com, and when the TDPS's site popped up, the renewal link was on the front page. I keyed in the required information on the form, changed my address, and printed a renewal confirmation. The price for such convenience? One I can live with. I'll carry around a shiny new license with an old photo for another five years.

So what does this have to do with real estate? The great state of Texas has a lot of important links and information for real estate licensees and residents, items that could help Realtors save time and sell more real estate.

Not to be outdone by another government bureaucracy, the Texas Real Estate Commission has been renewing two-year broker and salesperson licenses online since August, 2000. But now, real estate salespersons can apply for a license online and pay with a credit card. The only caveat is that the licensee wannabee has to provide proof of completion of 120 hours of core real estate classes, as well as 60 hours of related courses.

The TREC also has a fun idea for consumers that licensees can also use for a competitive edge - a real estate licensee search. Yep, anyone can go online and see whether or not a licensee is current with requirements.

This will only work if you have been in business a while and are up to date with all your continuing ed requirements, but the next time you are in the hunt to represent a seller or buyer, suggest that your prospect go online and look up your credentials. He or she will be able to see which courses you've taken and how long you have been licensed according to your educational updates. So if you are trying to impress a buyer and you've just taken "Effective Buyer Representation," or you want to impress a seller with your legal acumen, show them you've completed "Contracts and Legal Issues, or "Real Estate Agency and Contracts."

You can also check out local mortgage brokers at Texas Savings and Loan Department.

Texas licensees can do more to impress their prospects. They can also help them with relocation and homebuying services online by pointing them to Texas Online. Many of these services have only been available a short time online, so a Texas licensee will be cutting edge to add this link to his or her Web site under 'Moving Resources.'

Under 'Health and Family Services,' there's an education program for first time homebuyers which "channels low interest rate mortgage revenue bond funds through participating Texas lenders to eligible families and individuals who are purchasing their first home or who have not owned a home in the past three years."

There are also links to low income housing information as well as information for veterans on TexasHousing.org.

By having the URL to their states' residents' services, Realtors can demonstrate that they are the source for homebuyers' and sellers' information. Realtors can also take advantage of the time-saving services, like renewing their vehicle registrations online.

If your sellers or buyers are crime-conscious, they can visit the TDPS to:

• Check criminal convictions, including sex offenders, and the 'Ten Most Wanted'

• Find information on renewing concealed handgun licenses

And just for fun, don't miss the early motorcycles and uniforms in the DPS online museum.

Published: January 30, 2002

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