Free West Virginia Real Estate Practice Test (2026) — LicenseIQ

Question 1

Under the statute of frauds, a real estate sales contract must be:

Accepted Answer

The statute of frauds requires real estate sales contracts to be in writing and signed to be enforceable.

Question 2

What is the maximum administrative fine the Commission may impose?

Accepted Answer

Section 30-40-7(l) authorizes an administrative fine of up to $1,000 per day per violation. $5,000 and $10,000 figures come from the criminal fine ranges for second offenses, which a court imposes, not the Commission.

Question 3

A salesperson earns $6,000 on a $150,000 sale. What was the commission rate?

Accepted Answer

Rate = commission / sale price = $6,000 / $150,000 = 0.04 = 4%.

Question 4

In the cost approach, the appraiser estimates value by:

Accepted Answer

Cost approach: replacement (or reproduction) cost new - depreciation + land value. Land is valued separately because it does not depreciate.

Question 5

Under the Code of Ethics, commission disputes between REALTORS associated with different firms are generally resolved through:

Accepted Answer

Article 17 requires REALTORS to mediate or arbitrate contractual and specific non-contractual disputes with other REALTORS through the association.

Question 6

Where is the West Virginia Fair Housing Act currently codified?

Accepted Answer

In 2024 (SB 300) the Legislature repealed article 5-11A and recodified the Act at §16B-18. Older materials cite 5-11A; chapter 30, article 40 is the License Act.

Question 7

A special assessment to install new sidewalks is paid by:

Accepted Answer

Special assessments are levied on properties that benefit from a specific local improvement, often over a fixed period.

Question 8

A salesperson receives an earnest money check from a buyer. The salesperson should:

Accepted Answer

The broker manages the trust account; licensees must promptly deliver trust funds to the broker.

Question 9

A buyer's 10-day inspection contingency expires without the buyer acting on serious issues found in the report. The buyer generally:

Accepted Answer

Contingencies have deadlines; once the period lapses without action, the buyer's protection on that item ends.

Question 10

At what percentage of true and actual value is real property assessed for tax in West Virginia?

Accepted Answer

Section 11-3-1 requires assessment at 60 percent of true and actual value.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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.)

Question 12

At minimum, how much notice must be given before a disciplinary hearing?

Accepted Answer

Section 30-40-21(b) requires the hearing to be no less than 30 days after notice. Twenty days is the answer deadline.

Question 13

Under West Virginia law, an 'assistance animal' is a service, therapy or support animal under what weight?

Accepted Answer

Section 16B-18-3 defines an assistance animal as one under 150 pounds that assists a person with a disability or provides emotional support for a disability.

Question 14

How is an applicant's criminal history checked?

Accepted Answer

Section 30-40-11 requires a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history check through the State Police, forwarded to the FBI, at the applicant's cost. An attorney may substitute a State Bar letter of good standing.

Question 15

A salesperson refers her buyer client to a lender that pays the salesperson's brokerage a marketing fee. What must happen first?

Accepted Answer

Section 30-40-19(a)(32) bars referring a party to a lender or affiliated business for a financial benefit without first obtaining the principal's signed consent.

Question 16

A CMA prepared by a salesperson to suggest a listing price is:

Accepted Answer

A CMA is an informal estimate of a likely price range based on comparables - not an appraisal, which only a licensed appraiser can perform.

Question 17

In an option to purchase, the seller who grants the option is the ____ and the option holder is the ____.

Accepted Answer

The seller (optionor) gives the option; the buyer (optionee) holds it. Only the optionor is bound during the option period, making it unilateral.

Question 18

A seller owns the surface of a farm, but a 1930 deed reserved all oil and gas to a prior owner. What can the seller convey?

Accepted Answer

Once minerals are severed by reservation, the surface owner cannot convey them. Real estate includes any interest in land (§30-40-4), and implying otherwise would be a misrepresentation under §30-40-19.

Question 19

A broker moves the main office across town. Within how many days must the broker notify the Commission?

Accepted Answer

Section 30-40-17(a)(3) and 174CSR1 §10.4 require the broker to apply before the change or within 10 days after it. Thirty days applies to a licensee's personal contact information and trade-name changes.

Question 20

A licensee representing the seller who learns the buyer will pay more than the offer must:

Accepted Answer

Loyalty and disclosure require the seller's agent to share material information that benefits the client. The agent owes the buyer-customer no confidentiality.

Question 21

A house with only one bathroom and very small closets in a market expecting more suffers from:

Accepted Answer

Functional obsolescence is outdated design or layout inside the property. External obsolescence comes from outside the property and is usually incurable.

Question 22

A tenancy ends May 31 and a new tenant moves in June 20. By what date must the landlord return the deposit or itemized deductions?

Accepted Answer

The notice period in §37-6A-1 is the shorter of 60 days after the tenancy ends (July 30) or 45 days after a new tenant occupies (August 4). The shorter period controls, so July 30.

Question 23

Adverse possession allows someone to acquire title by:

Accepted Answer

Adverse possession requires open, notorious, exclusive, continuous and hostile use for the statutory period. A tenant's possession is permissive, not hostile. (Reclassified to section 1 / CORE.)

Question 24

In the early years of a fully amortizing fixed-rate mortgage, the largest portion of each monthly payment goes toward:

Accepted Answer

Early payments are mostly interest; as the balance declines, more of each payment goes to principal.

Question 25

Inducing owners to sell by suggesting people of a protected class are moving in is:

Accepted Answer

Blockbusting (panic peddling) is illegal under the Fair Housing Act.

West Virginia real estate practice test

1. Under the statute of frauds, a real estate sales contract must be:

2. What is the maximum administrative fine the Commission may impose?

3. A salesperson earns $6,000 on a $150,000 sale. What was the commission rate?

4. In the cost approach, the appraiser estimates value by:

5. Under the Code of Ethics, commission disputes between REALTORS associated with different firms are generally resolved through:

6. Where is the West Virginia Fair Housing Act currently codified?

7. A special assessment to install new sidewalks is paid by:

8. A salesperson receives an earnest money check from a buyer. The salesperson should:

9. A buyer's 10-day inspection contingency expires without the buyer acting on serious issues found in the report. The buyer generally:

10. At what percentage of true and actual value is real property assessed for tax in West Virginia?

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

12. At minimum, how much notice must be given before a disciplinary hearing?

13. Under West Virginia law, an 'assistance animal' is a service, therapy or support animal under what weight?

14. How is an applicant's criminal history checked?

15. A salesperson refers her buyer client to a lender that pays the salesperson's brokerage a marketing fee. What must happen first?

16. A CMA prepared by a salesperson to suggest a listing price is:

17. In an option to purchase, the seller who grants the option is the and the option holder is the .

18. A seller owns the surface of a farm, but a 1930 deed reserved all oil and gas to a prior owner. What can the seller convey?

19. A broker moves the main office across town. Within how many days must the broker notify the Commission?

20. A licensee representing the seller who learns the buyer will pay more than the offer must:

21. A house with only one bathroom and very small closets in a market expecting more suffers from:

22. A tenancy ends May 31 and a new tenant moves in June 20. By what date must the landlord return the deposit or itemized deductions?

23. Adverse possession allows someone to acquire title by:

24. In the early years of a fully amortizing fixed-rate mortgage, the largest portion of each monthly payment goes toward:

25. Inducing owners to sell by suggesting people of a protected class are moving in is:

Sources