Free practice tests

National real estate math practice test

25 questions with answers and explanations · 2026

1. An 8-unit building rents for $1,100 per unit per month with 5% vacancy. Annual operating expenses are $28,320 (excluding debt service). At an 8% capitalization rate, what is the value?

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. PGI = 8 x $1,100 x 12 = $105,600; less 5% vacancy = $100,320; NOI = $100,320 - $28,320 = $72,000; value = $72,000 / 0.08 = $900,000.

2. A broker received a 4.2% commission totaling $12,600. What was the sale price?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Sale price = commission / rate = $12,600 / 0.042 = $300,000.

3. A rectangular lot is 100 ft by 150 ft. How many square feet is it?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Area = length x width = 100 x 150 = 15,000 square feet. (250 is the sum of two sides.)

4. A seller wants to net $250,000 after paying a 6% commission and $6,000 in other closing costs. To the nearest dollar, what must the sale price be?

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. Net + other costs = $256,000, which equals 94% of the price (100% - 6%). Price = $256,000 / 0.94 = $272,340.43, about $272,340. Adding 6% to $256,000 ($271,360) understates the price.

5. A buyer purchases a $300,000 home with a $60,000 down payment. What is the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio?

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. Loan = $300,000 - $60,000 = $240,000; $240,000 / $300,000 = 80% LTV. (20% is the down payment percentage.)

6. Annual taxes are $3,650. Using a 365-day year, what is the daily proration amount?

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. $3,650 / 365 = $10 per day. (The course's default convention is a 360-day year; this question specifies 365.)

7. A home sells for $520,000 with a 5% commission. The listing broker pays 2.5% to the buyer's broker and splits the listing side 60/40 with the listing salesperson (salesperson gets 60%). How much does the listing salesperson earn?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Total = $520,000 x 0.05 = $26,000. Buyer broker gets 2.5% = $13,000, leaving $13,000 for the listing side. Salesperson = $13,000 x 0.60 = $7,800.

8. A listing agreement in which the broker earns a commission regardless of who sells the property is a(n):

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. In an exclusive right-to-sell listing, the listing broker earns a commission no matter who procures the buyer, even the owner. (Reclassified to section 6 / CORE.)

9. A seller says, 'I will pay any broker a 5% commission if they bring me a buyer.' This promise creates a(n):

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. In a unilateral contract only one party is bound (to pay if the act is performed); the other party has no obligation to act. Most real estate contracts are bilateral.

10. A new highway interchange built next to a residential subdivision lowers home values. This is:

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. Loss in value caused by factors outside the property boundaries is external obsolescence.

11. The seller of a rental property collected $1,800 rent for the month on the 1st. Closing is on the 10th, and the seller owns the day of closing (30-day month). What is the rent proration?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Daily rent = $1,800 / 30 = $60. Buyer owns days 11-30 = 20 days. 20 x $60 = $1,200, credited to the buyer because the seller collected rent for days the buyer will own.

12. When competing brokerages agree to charge the same commission rate, they commit:

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. Agreeing on commissions among competitors is illegal price fixing under the Sherman Antitrust Act; commissions must be set independently and are always negotiable.

13. A buyer purchases a home for $425,000 with a loan of $361,250. What is the LTV?

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. LTV = loan / price = $361,250 / $425,000 = 0.85 = 85%. (15% is the down payment percentage.)

14. A house is L-shaped: one section is 40 ft by 30 ft and the other is 20 ft by 15 ft. At $185 per square foot, what is the estimated cost to build?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Area = (40 x 30) + (20 x 15) = 1,200 + 300 = 1,500 sq ft; 1,500 x $185 = $277,500.

15. A borrower pays $4,500 for 1.5 discount points. What is the loan amount?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Loan = cost of points / points as a percentage = $4,500 / 0.015 = $300,000.

16. A lender approves a $276,000 loan and the buyer wants to keep an 80% LTV. What is the maximum purchase price?

Answer & explanation

Answer: A. Purchase price = loan / LTV = $276,000 / 0.80 = $345,000. ($220,800 wrongly multiplies by 0.80.)

17. The seller prepaid $4,320 in property taxes for the calendar year. Closing is April 20, and the seller owns the day of closing. Using a 360-day year (30-day months), what is the proration?

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. Daily = $4,320 / 360 = $12. Seller owned Jan 1-Apr 20 = 3 months + 20 days = 110 days, so the buyer owes for 360 - 110 = 250 days. 250 x $12 = $3,000, credited to the seller (who prepaid) and debited to the buyer.

18. A borrower paid $3,150 in points on a $210,000 loan. How many points were paid?

Answer & explanation

Answer: A. Points = cost / loan = $3,150 / $210,000 = 0.015 = 1.5 points (1 point = 1% of the loan).

19. When a broker appoints one salesperson to represent the seller and another salesperson in the same office to represent the buyer, this is:

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. Designated agency assigns separate agents within one brokerage; the broker is still a dual agent and written consent is required.

20. On a $250,000 loan, how much is 2 discount points?

Answer & explanation

Answer: A. 1 point = 1% of the loan. 2 points = 0.02 x $250,000 = $5,000.

21. A rectangular parcel measures 330 feet by 660 feet. How many acres does it contain?

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. Area = 330 x 660 = 217,800 sq ft; 217,800 / 43,560 = 5 acres.

22. One discount point equals what percentage of the loan amount?

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. One point = 1% of the loan amount (not the purchase price), paid to lower the interest rate.

23. On the $20,000 commission above, the listing broker keeps 50% and pays 50% to the buyer's broker. How much does the buyer's broker receive?

Answer & explanation

Answer: D. $20,000 x 0.50 = $10,000 to the buyer's broker.

24. A 275-gallon heating oil tank costs $168 to fill at $4.20 per gallon. The buyer will credit the seller for the oil remaining in the tank. What is the credit?

Answer & explanation

Answer: C. Gallons needed = $168 / $4.20 = 40; remaining = 275 - 40 = 235 gallons; credit = 235 x $4.20 = $987.

25. A listing where the seller may sell themselves without owing commission, but only the listing broker among agents is protected, is:

Answer & explanation

Answer: B. In an exclusive agency listing, the seller pays no commission on a self-sale, but the listing broker is protected if any broker sells it. (Reclassified to section 6 / CORE.)

Sources

Source verification pending. Confirm current requirements with your state regulator.

Last verified: Not yet verified