diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/middleware.ts b/teressa-copeland-homes/middleware.ts
index 561ec35..c6c296b 100644
--- a/teressa-copeland-homes/middleware.ts
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/middleware.ts
@@ -1,25 +1,9 @@
-import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
-import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
+import NextAuth from "next-auth";
+import { authConfig } from "@/lib/auth.config";
 
-export default auth((req) => {
-  const isLoggedIn = !!req.auth;
-  const isAgentRoute = req.nextUrl.pathname.startsWith("/agent");
-  const isLoginPage = req.nextUrl.pathname === "/agent/login";
-
-  // Protect all /agent/* routes except the login page itself
-  if (isAgentRoute && !isLoginPage && !isLoggedIn) {
-    return NextResponse.redirect(new URL("/agent/login", req.nextUrl.origin));
-  }
-
-  // Redirect already-authenticated users away from the login page
-  if (isLoginPage && isLoggedIn) {
-    return NextResponse.redirect(new URL("/agent/dashboard", req.nextUrl.origin));
-  }
-});
+const { auth } = NextAuth(authConfig);
+export default auth;
 
 export const config = {
-  matcher: [
-    // Run on /agent/* routes, excluding Next.js internals and static files
-    "/((?!_next/static|_next/image|favicon.ico).*)",
-  ],
+  matcher: ["/agent/:path*"],
 };
diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/dashboard/page.tsx b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/dashboard/page.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c07d97e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/dashboard/page.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
+
+export default async function DashboardPage() {
+  // Defense-in-depth session check (layout also checks, this is belt-and-suspenders)
+  const session = await auth();
+  if (!session) redirect("/agent/login");
+
+  return (
+    <div>
+      <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-900">Dashboard</h1>
+      <p className="mt-2 text-gray-500">
+        Welcome back, {session.user?.email}. Portal content coming in Phase 3.
+      </p>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/layout.tsx b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/layout.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a521b11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/app/agent/(protected)/layout.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
+import { LogoutButton } from "@/components/ui/LogoutButton";
+
+export default async function AgentLayout({
+  children,
+}: {
+  children: React.ReactNode;
+}) {
+  // Defense-in-depth: middleware handles most cases, this catches edge cases
+  const session = await auth();
+  if (!session) redirect("/agent/login");
+
+  return (
+    <div className="min-h-screen bg-gray-50">
+      <header className="bg-white border-b border-gray-200 px-6 py-4 flex items-center justify-between">
+        <span className="text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Agent Portal</span>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
+          <span className="text-sm text-gray-500">{session.user?.email}</span>
+          <LogoutButton />
+        </div>
+      </header>
+      <main className="p-6">{children}</main>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.config.ts b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a57632e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import type { NextAuthConfig } from "next-auth";
+
+/**
+ * Edge-compatible auth config — no DB imports.
+ * Used by middleware.ts (Edge Runtime).
+ * Full auth.ts adds the Credentials provider with DB access.
+ */
+export const authConfig = {
+  session: {
+    strategy: "jwt",
+    maxAge: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60,
+    updateAge: 24 * 60 * 60,
+  },
+  pages: {
+    signIn: "/agent/login",
+  },
+  providers: [], // Providers added in auth.ts — not needed for middleware JWT check
+  callbacks: {
+    authorized({ auth, request: { nextUrl } }) {
+      const isLoggedIn = !!auth?.user;
+      const isLoginPage = nextUrl.pathname === "/agent/login";
+      const isAgentRoute = nextUrl.pathname.startsWith("/agent");
+
+      if (isLoginPage) {
+        if (isLoggedIn) return Response.redirect(new URL("/agent/dashboard", nextUrl.origin));
+        return true; // Always allow unauthenticated access to login page
+      }
+
+      if (isAgentRoute) {
+        return isLoggedIn; // Redirect unauthenticated users to login
+      }
+
+      return true;
+    },
+    jwt({ token, user }) {
+      if (user) token.id = user.id;
+      return token;
+    },
+    session({ session, token }) {
+      session.user.id = token.id as string;
+      return session;
+    },
+  },
+} satisfies NextAuthConfig;
diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.ts b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.ts
index e5288c5..9303b66 100644
--- a/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.ts
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/src/lib/auth.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { users } from "@/lib/db/schema";
 import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import bcrypt from "bcryptjs";
 import { z } from "zod";
+import { authConfig } from "./auth.config";
 
 const loginSchema = z.object({
   email: z.string().email(),
@@ -12,14 +13,7 @@ const loginSchema = z.object({
 });
 
 export const { handlers, auth, signIn, signOut } = NextAuth({
-  session: {
-    strategy: "jwt",
-    maxAge: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60, // 7 days — rolling session per user decision
-    updateAge: 24 * 60 * 60, // Refresh cookie once per day (not every request)
-  },
-  pages: {
-    signIn: "/agent/login", // Custom login page — per user decision
-  },
+  ...authConfig,
   providers: [
     Credentials({
       async authorize(credentials) {
@@ -44,14 +38,4 @@ export const { handlers, auth, signIn, signOut } = NextAuth({
       },
     }),
   ],
-  callbacks: {
-    jwt({ token, user }) {
-      if (user) token.id = user.id;
-      return token;
-    },
-    session({ session, token }) {
-      session.user.id = token.id as string;
-      return session;
-    },
-  },
 });