https://contractrules.com/changes/Sourced, state-by-state rules for US residential real estate transactions. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2026-07-012026-07-01-mississippi-buyer_agreementWed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMTSB 2713 and SB 2748 define a written “brokerage agreement” and require one before a licensee lists property or submits an offer on a buyer's behalf for compensation. Showings without an agreement are still allowed. The same amendments extend the earnest-money deposit deadline from one to two banking days after the day of receipt. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2026-07-012026-07-01-texas-due_diligenceWed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMTTREC's One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale), form 20-19, effective 07/01/2026, replaced 20-18. Other TREC contracts on TREC's list, including New Home, Farm and Ranch, Condominium Resale, Unimproved Property, and Amendment, carry the same effective date. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2026-06-012026-06-01-georgia-generalMon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe Georgia Association of REALTORS® revised its 2026 forms effective June 1, 2026. These are a trade association's forms, not changes to Georgia law. Residential changes include: (1) The Purchase and Sale Agreement (F201) now gives buyer and seller each a limited, one-time right to extend the closing by 8 days on notice for specific reasons: lender not ready (buyer), unresolved title objections (seller), or closing attorney not ready (either party). (2) New earnest-money notice steps: the holder must notify both parties when a buyer fails to cure late or bounced earnest money, before the seller's termination window runs. The buyer's broker can receive earnest-money disbursement notices for a client after termination. (3) The FIRPTA section was retitled and reworded in F201 and the seller brokerage agreements. (4) The statute-of-limitations provision was removed from its old place in F201 and in the buyer and seller brokerage agreements (F110, F113, F101, F104, F105). It was not eliminated: it now appears as its own section (F201 ¶ C.8(c); F110 ¶ C.11). (5) The Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (F301) added questions on sewer or septic backups and interior water damage. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2026-01-012026-01-01-texas-buyer_agreementThu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMTNew Tex. Occ. Code § 1101.563 requires a written agreement with a prospective residential buyer before showing property, or before presenting an offer if nothing is shown. The agreement must state services, term, exclusivity, representation status, and compensation, plus a conspicuous notice that compensation is negotiable. New § 1101.562 allows non-representation showings under a non-exclusive agreement of 14 days or less. TREC's IABS notice was revised the same day. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2026-01-012026-01-01-california-seller_disclosuresThu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMTAB 723 (Ch. 497, Stats. 2025; Bus. & Prof. Code § 10140.8) applies as of January 1, 2026, per DRE. Licensees who use digitally altered images in advertising must disclose the alteration and link to the original image. AB 455 (Ch. 263, Stats. 2025) requires sellers of single-family homes who know of tobacco or nicotine smoking residue or history to disclose it. DRE's summary doesn't state AB 455's effective date, and we have not confirmed it. AB 1521 (Ch. 200, Stats. 2025) corrected the AB 2992 buyer-agreement disclosure to say compensation is negotiable between buyer and broker. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2025-10-012025-10-01-florida-seller_disclosuresWed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTAmended § 689.302 (ch. 2025-166) requires sellers to disclose any flooding that damaged the property during their ownership, flood insurance claims, and any flood-damage assistance (no longer only federal assistance), at or before contract signing. A parallel lease flood disclosure (§ 83.512) also took effect. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2025-10-012025-10-01-alabama-dual_agencyWed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTAct 2025-380 (HB 382) requires the written, informed consent of all parties for dual agency. It lets a qualifying broker designate in-house licensees as single agents for their own clients, and it renames the “transaction broker” role “transaction facilitator.” AREC's RECAD disclosure rule (790-X-3-.13) was amended to match, with the amendment effective February 14, 2026. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2025-04-182025-04-18-alabama-buyer_agreementFri, 18 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMTRECAD amendments require a signed brokerage agreement before a licensee lists a property or submits an offer for a consumer, and bar requiring one just to show property. The RECAD disclosure and Agency Disclosure Office Policy must be given before any brokerage service, including showings. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2025-01-012025-01-01-california-buyer_agreementWed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMTNew Civil Code § 1670.50 requires a buyer-broker representation agreement no later than when the buyer signs an offer. Required terms cover compensation, services, when compensation is due, and termination. Agreements may not exceed three months or auto-renew (with an exception for entity buyers). https://contractrules.com/changes/#2024-08-172024-08-17-national-buyer_agreementSat, 17 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMTUnder the NAR settlement practice changes, MLS participants working with buyers must have a written agreement before touring a home, and compensation offers are barred from the MLS. This is a private settlement and MLS rule, not state law. NCREC's explainer is linked as an example of a state regulator's guidance. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2024-03-202024-03-20-new-york-seller_disclosuresWed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMTThe amended Property Condition Disclosure Statement took effect. Sellers can no longer give a $500 credit instead of the PCDS, and the form adds flood-related questions. https://contractrules.com/changes/#2024-01-012024-01-01-georgia-buyer_agreementMon, 01 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMTBRRETA amendments define an “option to enter into a brokerage engagement” and bar residential brokerage engagements from claiming to run with the land, from being assigned without the owner's notice and agreement (with exceptions), or from creating recordable liens.