Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect and Why We Collect It

A. Defining "Personal Information" and Sensitive Data

As a Texas real estate brokerage, we handle data protected by federal laws (the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 / FACTA) and Texas state law (Texas Business and Commerce Code §§ 501.051 - 501.053). This information includes:

• Standard Identifying Information: Full name, physical address, email address, and telephone number.
• Sensitive Personal Information: An individual’s first name or initial and last name in combination with a Social Security Number (SSN), driver’s license or other government-issued ID number, birth date, bank routing/account numbers, credit or debit card info, or employment/income history.
• Consumer Reports: Credit, background, eviction, and criminal history reports prepared by third-party consumer reporting agencies (such as TransUnion MySmartMove, RentSpree, and National Tenant Network) to assess tenant or buyer qualifications.

B. How and Why We Collect This Information

We collect and process personal data through three primary methods:

1. Information You Provide Directly to Us and Our Sponsored Agents

• Leasing and Transaction Applications: When prospective tenants or buyers apply for a property, they may complete the Texas Realtors (TXR) Residential Lease Application or other Texas real estate transaction forms. These forms are submitted via mail, secure email, fax, online web forms, or personal delivery to our sponsored agents.
  Purpose: To evaluate lease applications, verify tenant/buyer qualifications, and facilitate transactions on behalf of our clients.
• Client Onboarding and Support: We collect contact details and communication history when you submit an inquiry through our website, communicate with our sponsored agents, or contact customer support.
  Purpose: To respond to inquiries, assign you to an agent, and deliver brokerage services.
• Mobile and SMS Communication Data: We collect your phone number when you voluntarily provide it to us. This includes checking an opt-in box during website registration, filling out an online contact form, or verbally requesting text updates during an incoming call to our office or agents.
  Purpose: To send you transaction updates, property alerts, administrative messages, and other real estate related communication to facilitate a client or customer's real estate needs. 

2. Information We Receive From Third Parties

• Independent Consumer Reporting Agencies: At the direction of a client or as part of a leasing application, we may receive tenant screening reports, credit histories, and background checks from specialized third-party platforms (including TransUnion MySmartMove, RentSpree, or National Tenant Network).
  Purpose: To assist landlords and listing agents in evaluating applicant creditworthiness and rental capacity, in strict accordance with FACTA rules.
• Other Real Estate Professionals: We may receive transaction-related personal data from cooperating brokerages, escrow/title companies, or mortgage lenders involved in your transaction.
  Purpose: To cooperate with all parties to successfully close your real estate transaction.

3. Information We Collect Automatically (Cookies & Tracking)

• Usage and Device Data: We collect IP addresses, browser types, operating systems, unique device identifiers, pages visited, and time spent on our site.
  Purpose: To prevent fraud, ensure platform security, analyze website performance, and maintain the correct display of property listings.
• Cookies: We utilize strictly necessary cookies to operate our platform, as well as performance cookies to understand user interaction. You can adjust your browser settings to restrict cookies, though it may impact certain website features.

2. How We Share and Protect Your Information

A. Sharing of Personal Information

ReKonnection and its sponsored agents only share your personal information to facilitate your real estate transactions, provide requested services, or comply with legal obligations.

• Real Estate Transactions: Personal information from a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant is shared only as reasonably necessary to negotiate or close a transaction and to provide the services the customer or client seeks from this company. For leasing transactions, an applicant's Lease Application and details from third-party screening reports (e.g., MySmartMove, RentSpree, NTN) may be discussed with and provided to the listing agent and the property owner/landlord for evaluation with the applicant's prior knowledge and consent.
• Authorized Transaction Service Providers: This company may, at the customer’s or client’s request, provide personal information to service providers in a transaction such as a title company or mortgage company if it is necessary to expedite or complete a transaction.
• Internal Access Control: Access to sensitive personal information within ReKonnection is strictly limited to the sponsored agent or broker servicing your transaction, supervising office managers or compliance staff, and the owner of the company.
• Legal Requirements: If the company is required by law to allow others to access the personal information in the company’s files, the company will comply with the law (for example, compliance with court orders, subpoenas, or governmental investigations).

B. SMS Terms and Conditions

Upon messaging opt-in, the end user agrees to receive text messages from ReKonnection regarding account notifications, transaction updates, and general business correspondence.

• Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving further text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message you receive.
• Help: For more information or assistance, reply HELP, contact our customer support team at 972-914-0989, or email us at admin@rekonnection.com.
• Disclosures: Message frequency varies based on transaction activity. Message and data rates may apply.
• Consent: Consent to receive text messages is never required as a condition of purchasing any property, service, or accessing any content on our website.
  

C. Data Security Safeguards

We take the security of your personal information very seriously and have implemented reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, use, or disclosure.

• Physical Records: Any physical or written files containing sensitive personal information must be secured under lock and key when not in active use.
• Electronic Records: Digital records, client database profiles, and cloud storage systems are protected behind secure, individual user access names and passwords.
• Sponsored Agent Protocols: ReKonnection agents operate as independent contractors and may maintain separate transaction files. The company explicitly instructs its sponsored agents to maintain the same strict confidentiality standards and protect personal information in the exact same manner.
• Consumer Report Restrictions: Our agents and staff are strictly prohibited from making unauthorized copies of consumer credit reports. Consumer reports retained in our authorized files are securely maintained.

D. Safe Data Disposal

This company uses reasonable measures to dispose of personal information. Personal information is usually disposed of by shredding or burning documents, erasing electronic files by means that make the files unreadable or undecipherable, or by eradicating personal information from documents or electronic files in ways that make the personal information unreadable.

E. Accuracy and Correction of Erroneous Records

Pursuant to credit accuracy regulations: If this company erroneously reports information to a consumer reporting agency, the company will act to correct the information in the company’s records and request the reporting agency to correct the information in its records promptly after the company has learned and determined that the report was in error.

If this company maintains an erroneous record that a consumer has issued a dishonored check, the company will promptly delete the record after the company and consumer agree that the information is in error or after the consumer provides the company with a law enforcement agency report stating that the dishonored check was not authorized.

Notice: This company asks any person who provides personal information to this company or one of its agents to identify the information at that time as “personal information.”

3. Your Privacy Rights

We believe you should have control over your personal data. Below is a summary of the key rights you have under data protection laws. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at admin@rekonnection.com.

• Right to Know and Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: You have the right to ask us to correct any personal information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Right to Opt-Out of Data Sharing/Sale: You have the right to direct us not to share or "sell" your personal information. Do Not Sell My Personal Information.
• Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data for purposes like direct marketing.
• Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request your data in a structured, commonly used format.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If processing is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of your privacy rights, please submit a verifiable consumer request to us by:

Email: admin@rekonnection.com

Phone: 972-914-0989

Your request must include sufficient information to verify your identity. We will respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days.

4. Policy Updates

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon being posted on this page. We will provide notice of any material changes by sending an email to your primary email address or by placing a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of the Service constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.