Maryland-Real-Estate-Salesperson Real Estate Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Examination Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC §168), depreciation is a method for recovering the cost of income-producing property over time.

Residential income-producing properties (such as apartment buildings) are depreciated over 27.5 years.

Commercial income-producing properties (such as office buildings) are depreciated over 39 years.These timelines are based on the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) used for tax purposes.This concept is included in the Maryland Pre-Licensing Course within the Appraisal and Valuation section, to ensure licensees understand property valuation and investment considerations.

Under COMAR 09.11.02.33A(5) and the Maryland Code of Ethics, a licensee must promptly present all written offers to the property owner until an offer has been accepted. After acceptance, new offers need not be presented unless the seller specifically requests. This rule ensures fair treatment and full disclosure to clients while maintaining professional standards of practice.

A condominium is a form of ownership, not a type of structure.

It typically consists of multiple units (multi-family or multi-unit buildings) in which each owner holds title to their individual unit and shares ownership of common areas (e.g., hallways, pools, grounds) through the condominium association.

This differs from a cooperative (co-op), where residents hold shares and a proprietary lease.

The Statute of Frauds requires that certain contracts—including those for the sale or transfer of real property—be in writing and include:

The names of the parties,

Identification of the property, and

The essential terms and conditions (such as price and contingencies).This ensures the agreement is legally enforceable in court.

In a sub-agency relationship, the cooperating licensee (sub-agent) works with a buyer but represents the seller, not the buyer.

Kip, as a sub-agent, owes fiduciary duties of loyalty, obedience, confidentiality, and disclosure to the seller (May), the same client represented by Sheila, the listing agent.

The buyer, Charlie, is treated as a customer, not a client, meaning no fiduciary obligations exist beyond honesty and fair dealing.

This principle is covered in Maryland’s Law of Agency and Brokerage Operations modules.

Reference (Maryland Source):

– Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices Course, Agency Relationships and Sub-Agency sections.

– Business Occupations and Professions Article §17-530 – §17-534.

Maryland license law allows the earnest-money deposit (good-faith deposit) to be paid in cash, certified funds, or personal check, provided the terms are disclosed in the sales contract. A post-dated check or promissory note is not considered “good funds” unless all parties agree in writing. Verbal assurances never satisfy the deposit requirement. The broker must promptly deposit the funds in a designated trust (escrow) account.

The course’s antitrust section explains that Sherman Act criminal penalties can reach up to $100 million for corporations and up to $1 million for individuals, plus possible imprisonment for individuals. Real estate examples include price-fixing, market allocation, group boycotts, and tying arrangements—all prohibited.

Maryland law prohibits self-help eviction, which occurs when a landlord takes direct action—such as locking out a tenant or removing their belongings—without a court order.

Only a sheriff or court-appointed officer may evict a tenant following a court judgment for possession.

A landlord who locks out a tenant to recover rent is acting illegally, even if rent is overdue.

This topic is addressed in the Leasing and Property Management module of the pre-licensing course.

Reference (Maryland Source):

– Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices Course, Landlord-Tenant Law section.

– Real Property Article §8-216 – Prohibited Acts of Landlord (Self-Help Eviction).

A package loan (package mortgage) finances both real property and personal property (chattels) together in a single loan—common with new homes that include appliances or furnishings. A blanket loan covers multiple parcels; a wrap-around is junior financing that “wraps” an existing loan; “security” is not a loan type but a general concept.

Under the Maryland Real Estate Brokers Act (Business Occupations and Professions Article, §17-613), it is unlawful for any person to engage in real estate brokerage activities without a valid Maryland license.

The Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) may impose civil fines for unlicensed activity as follows:

Up to $5,000 for a first offense

Up to $15,000 for two offenses

Up to $25,000 for three or more offenses, but no more than $10,000 per violation

Therefore, for multiple offenses, the maximum fine per violation is $10,000.

The standard net-to-seller calculation is:

Net to seller = Sales price × (100% − commission rate) − closing costs.

Thus, the missing element is Sales price. (Commission is calculated on the sales price, then other seller-paid closing costs are subtracted to arrive at net.)

In Maryland, buyers have the right to receive full disclosure of any additions, alterations, or improvements made to a property. This is crucial because such modifications may have required building permits and inspections under state and local building codes.

A buyer wants to know whether permits were obtained to ensure that:

The work was done legally and safely,

It meets local code requirements, and

There are no future liability or resale issues.

Unpermitted work can lead to enforcement actions or costly repairs. The Maryland Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Statement (per Real Property §10-702) requires sellers to disclose known material defects or improvements.

Maryland agency law requires that licensees disclose and explain brokerage relationship options and obtain a signed brokerage agreement before providing client-level services. Prior to entering an exclusive right to sell, the licensee must present available forms of representation (e.g., exclusive right to sell vs. exclusive agency) and explain the duties, compensation, and implications of each so the seller can make an informed choice. Listing or marketing cannot lawfully proceed as client-level services without the executed agreement and required disclosures.

Appreciation refers to the increase in a property's value over time due to factors such as market demand, improvements, inflation, or location desirability.

It is the opposite of depreciation, which is a decline in value. Appreciation may result from physical improvements (e.g., renovations) or external factors (e.g., neighborhood development).

This concept is emphasized in the Maryland 60-Hour Course within the “Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation” module as a key element of market analysis and investment potential.

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) is the state agency responsible for enforcing fair housing laws within Maryland.

Under the Maryland Fair Housing Act (found in Title 20 of the State Government Article), the MCCR investigates complaints of discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

The MCCR’s duties include:

Receiving and investigating housing discrimination complaints.

Attempting conciliation between parties when possible.

Referring cases to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when they fall under federal jurisdiction.

Enforcing penalties and ensuring compliance with both state and federal fair housing standards.

In the Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course, this information is covered under the “Maryland Fair Housing and Ethics Requirements” module, emphasizing that licensees must understand and comply with both federal Fair Housing Act provisions and Maryland’s additional protected classes enforced by the MCCR.

Reference (Maryland Source):

Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course – “Maryland Fair Housing and Ethics Requirements” Module

Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government Article, Title 20 – Human Relations, §§ 20-701 to 20-711 (Maryland Fair Housing Act).

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act) prohibits discrimination in housing-related transactions and targets discriminatory practices including blockbusting (inducing sales by suggesting the entry of protected classes), steering (directing clients to or from areas based on protected characteristics), and redlining (denying or varying terms for loans or insurance based on neighborhood demographics).

Marital status, sexual orientation, and source of income are not federal protected classes in the 1968 Act’s original text; however, Maryland law provides broader protections at the state level.

References (Maryland Pre-Licensing Core Content):

Maryland 60-Hour Course: “Fair Housing and Ethics” (federal protected classes; prohibited practices—blockbusting, steering, redlining).

Federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII) concepts as taught in the Maryland curriculum; Maryland Human Relations Law adds state protections.

In leasing, a covenant is a binding promise or agreement contained within the lease. It can require or restrict certain actions by either the lessor (landlord) or lessee (tenant)—for example, a covenant of quiet enjoyment, a covenant to pay rent, or a covenant to maintain the property. These promises are enforceable under contract and property law.

Under Maryland law, agency relationships are determined by who the licensee represents, not by who pays the compensation.

Even though the buyer’s agent may receive payment from the listing broker via a cooperative compensation (often shared through the MLS), that payment does not make the buyer’s agent an agent of the seller.

The licensee’s fiduciary duties—loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, obedience, reasonable care, and accounting—belong solely to the buyer, the client under the brokerage agreement.

This principle is detailed under the Maryland Agency Law section of the pre-licensing course.

Reference (Maryland Source):

– Maryland 60-Hour Principles and Practices Course, Law of Agency module.

– Business Occupations and Professions Article §17-530 through §17-534.

– COMAR 09.11.07.01 – Disclosure of Agency Relationships.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Loan Program provides financing for low- to moderate-income borrowers in rural areas.

The Maryland course teaches that Section 502 Direct Loans may offer repayment terms of up to 38 years, depending on borrower income and property location.

These loans are designed to promote homeownership in eligible rural communities and may include payment assistance or subsidies to reduce monthly payments.