New TREC Contract Forms Are Now Mandatory in Texas — Here's What San Antonio Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

If you are buying or selling a home in San Antonio right now, the paperwork your agent hands you today looks a little different than it did yesterday. As of July 1, 2026, the Texas Real Estate Commission's revised contract forms became mandatory statewide. That includes transactions everywhere from Alamo Heights and Stone Oak to Helotes, Converse, and the fast-growing communities along Highway 151 and 1604. The change is not optional, and every licensed Texas agent must use the updated versions starting today.

The forms that are now required include the primary residential purchase contracts — numbered 20-19, 9-18, 23-20, 24-20, 25-17, and 30-18 — along with the Amendment to Contract (39-11) and the Back-Up Addendum (11-9). Two brand-new forms also join the lineup: Form 61-0, the Seller's Disclosure about Groundwater and Surface Water Rights, and Form 62-0, the Seller's Notice to Buyer of Removal of Contingency.

For most San Antonio buyers and sellers, the revision that will feel most immediate is the restructuring of Paragraph 12. What was once a single paragraph handling costs is now divided into two distinct sections. Paragraph 12A covers Expenses — things like closing costs, repairs, and other transaction-related fees. Paragraph 12B addresses Brokerage Compensation separately and, importantly, adds a new option for the buyer to contribute directly to the seller's broker's compensation.

That last piece is worth pausing on. In a market where buyer broker compensation has already been a topic of conversation, this change gives buyers and sellers a cleaner, more transparent way to negotiate who pays what and how much. If you are purchasing a home in a neighborhood like Sonterra, Dominion, or the New Braunfels corridor just outside the city, your agent will now walk you through this section specifically so there are no surprises at the closing table.

For home sellers in San Antonio, the two new disclosure forms are equally important. Form 61-0 requires sellers to disclose information about groundwater and surface water rights associated with the property. This is particularly relevant in areas outside the city core where properties may be located near the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, have water wells, or sit on acreage in communities like Boerne, Helotes, or eastern Bexar County. If you are listing a property with any water rights considerations, talk to your agent and possibly a real estate attorney before signing anything.

Form 62-0, the Seller's Notice to Buyer of Removal of Contingency, gives sellers a formal mechanism to notify buyers when a contingency has been removed from the contract. This is especially useful in situations involving back-up offers, which are still common in desirable ZIP codes like 78209 in Alamo Heights, 78230 near UTSA, and 78258 in the Stone Oak area. If you are waiting as a back-up buyer or managing multiple offers as a seller, this form clarifies where things stand.

If you are renting in San Antonio and wondering whether any of this affects you, the honest answer is mostly indirectly. These are purchase contract forms, not lease agreements. But if you are a tenant considering a transition to homeownership — which many renters in areas like Leon Valley, Lackland AFB, or the Northside ISD and Southside ISD attendance zones are currently weighing — the changes to Paragraph 12B could actually work in your favor. Having a defined place in the contract where buyer contributions to broker compensation are spelled out gives first-time buyers more clarity before they ever make an offer.

For current homeowners who are not planning to move, there is nothing to act on today. But if refinancing, selling, or even leasing out a property is something you are considering before the end of 2026, knowing that these forms are now in play helps you go into those conversations informed.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: work with an agent who is already trained on these forms and who can explain each section in plain language before you sign. At 5 Star Real Estate of San Antonio, our agents have been preparing for this transition and are ready to guide buyers, sellers, and investors through the updated paperwork without confusion or delay.

Real estate contracts are legal documents. The details in Paragraph 12, the new water rights disclosure, and the contingency removal notice all have real consequences. Today is a good day to make sure the person in your corner knows exactly what they are working with.