Chapter 1 Principles I Quiz Flashcards
1. The listing is always taken in the name of the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and becomes the property of the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A. Broker—salesperson B. Salesperson—seller C. Broker—broker D. Broker—seller
The correct answer is C.
The listing belongs to the sponsoring broker and is in the sponsoring broker’s name. One of the listing broker’s sponsored agents may have taken the listing, but the listing belongs to the broker and not the salesperson.
2. A deed is used to transfer ownership of real estate. A bill of sale would be used to transfer ownership of: A. A mortgage B. Personal property C. A deed of trust D. A house and 2 acres of land
The correct answer is B.
A bill of sale is used to convey personal property. A deed is used to convey real estate. A contract for deed and a deed of trust are both mortgage documents.
- The life tenant in a life estate is not allowed to:
A. Pay the property tax on the property
B. Commit waste by destroying or harming the property
C. Lease the property and keep the rent
D. Improve the property
The correct answer is B.
The life tenant only owns the property while they are alive and cannot control who will own the property after their death. Therefore, they may not waste the property.
4. The Education Standards Advisory Committee is made up of: A. 12 members B. 13 members C. 9 members D. 14 members
The correct answer is A.
The Education Standards Advisory Committee has 12 members. The Broker Lawyer Committee has 13 members and TREC has 9 members.
5. The government receives the authority to take the property of one who dies without a will and without heirs by virtue of: A. Laws of agency B. Eminent domain C. Police power D. Escheat
The correct answer is D.
All property within Texas originally belonged to Texas. If property becomes ownerless, it goes back to the state. This is called escheat.
6. Which of the following land description methods identifies a parcel of land by specifying its shape and boundaries? A. Metes and bounds B. Government survey C. Recorded plat D. Assessor's parcel number
The correct answer is A.
Metes and bounds identifies a parcel of land by specifying its shape and boundaries. The government survey system uses townships and sections in the land description.
The recorded subdivision plat has lot and block. The assessor’s parcel number is the number assigned to the property by the tax assessor and is not a legal description.
7. When someone owns property to the exclusion of all other persons, this person is said to hold the property in: A. Personality B. Severalty C. Common D. Secret
The correct answer is B.
Severalty means sole owner. In other words, severed from all other owners.
8. One who is given a power-of-attorney that allows them to sign the name of a principal to a contract of sale is a(n): A. Attorney-in-fact B. Broker with a listing C. Special agent D. Attorney at law
The correct answer is A.
A power-of-attorney is a legal document drawn up by an attorney. It gives a person called the attorney-in-fact the right to sign another person’s name to a document.
- TRELA does not apply to:
A. An attorney licensed in this state
B. An on-site manager of an apartment complex
C. A public official while engaged in official duties
D. All of the above
The correct answer is D.
TRELA does not apply to any of these. An attorney licensed in this state, an onsite manager of an apartment complex, and a public official engaged in real estate transactions as part of
their official duties are not required to have a real estate license.
10. The most widely recognized aspect of joint tenancy is the: A. Right of equal interest B. Right of equal use C. Right of survivorship D. Simultaneous creation of ownership
The correct answer is C.
Joint tenancy with the right of survivorship means the last owner to survive owns
the entire property. This owner takes ownership in severalty
- An applicant who fails an examination:
A. May apply for reexamination but must wait 7 days before retaking the national portion of the test.
B. Must retake and pass a 30-hour principles class before applying for reexamination.
C. Will only be allowed to retest after a six-month wait.
D. May apply for reexamination by filing a request accompanied by the proper fee.
The correct answer is D. An applicant who fails an examination may retake the examination by filing a
request with the proper fee. The applicant has one year from the time of application in which to pass the
examination.
13. The listing agreement that most brokers prefer is the: A. Exclusive agency listing B. Net listing C. Exclusive right to sell listing D. Open listing
The correct answer is C. The exclusive right to sell listing gives the broker the right to collect a commission no matter who brings the buyer. This guarantee is why brokers prefer this type of listing.
14. The greatest estate or ownership in real property is: A. A qualified fee estate B. An estate at sufferance C. A fee simple estate D. Annexation
The correct answer is C.
The fee simple estate, also called fee simple absolute or fee simple, is the highest form of ownership. A lesser estate would be a life estate.
- A person may not sell, lease, or transfer an easement or right-of-way used for utility, railroad, or
pipeline service for another for compensation unless the person:
A. Holds a real estate license issued by TREC
B. Holds a certificate of registration issued by TREC
C. Either A or B
D. Neither A or B
The correct answer is C. This person would be called a right of way agent and TREC requires they have
a real estate license or a certificate issued by TREC.
- A square-mile section contains _________ acres and each acre contains _________ square feet.
A. 640—–43,560
B. Square-mile sections are not used in Texas.
C. 43,560—–640
D. 722—–20060
The correct answer is A.
A square-mile section contains 640 acres, with each acre having 43,560 square feet. Sections are used in the Rectangular Survey System. Texas uses metes and bounds but we also use sections.
- ________________ means a broker who is employed to negotiate a transaction between the parties
to a transaction and for that purpose may act as an agent of the parties.
A. A seller’s agent
B. A buyer’s agent
C. A subagent
D. An intermediary
The correct answer is D. A seller’s broker represents only the seller in a transaction and the buyer’s broker represents only a buyer in a transaction, but the broker acting as an intermediary in a transaction
represents both the seller and the buyer.
19. DTPA holds licensees liable if they: A. Commit an unconscionable act B. Misrepresent a material fact C. Fail to disclose information with the intention of inducing a consumer into a transaction D. All of the above
The correct answer is D. DTPA is the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and liability exists for all of the listed transgressions
- All listing agreements are required to:
A. Have an expiration date
B. Expire if the property has not been sold by the expiration date
C. Not be relisted by the listing broker
D. Both A and B
The correct answer is D. All listing agreements must expire but the listing agent may relist the property if the owner agrees.
21. A contract in which all the parties make promises and are bound to act is: A. Bilateral B. Not acceptable C. Unilateral D. An option agreement
The correct answer is A. In a bilateral contract, the seller promises to sell, and the buyer promises to buy. In a unilateral contract, only one person makes a promise and the other person acts on that promise.
22. Discrimination in housing on the basis of race is prohibited by: A. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 B. The Civil Rights Law of 1855 C. An 1815 law D. The Civil Rights Act of 1866
The correct answer is D. Race is the only protected class in the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It is a federal law.
23. Examples of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ are zoning laws, building codes, rent controls, and fire codes. A. Property tax B. Eminent domain C. Police power D. Escheat
The correct answer is C. Police power is one of the governments rights to privately owned land. Examples of police power include zoning laws, building codes, rent controls, and fire codes.
- The handicapped amendment to fair housing defines handicapped as:
A. Having a physical or mental impairment that limits major life activities
B. Having a record of having such an impairment
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
The correct answer is C. Handicap became a protected class in 1988 and its definition includes having a physical or mental impairment that limits major life activities as well as having a record of such impairment
25. A real estate broker or salesperson, while acting as an agent for another, is: A. A fiduciary B. Incompetent C. Discriminating D. Unlicensed
The correct answer is A. Fiduciary duty includes obedience, loyalty, disclosure, confidentially, accounting, and reasonable care
26. If the servient estate is said to be burdened by an easement appurtenant, what is the effect on the dominant estate? A. It is not affected by the easement. B. It benefits from the easement. C. It is totally inaccessible. D. It depends on the zoning.
The correct answer is B. The dominant estate benefits from the easement. The easement runs across the servient estate and the dominant estate is allowed to use the easement.
- A broker’s license is suspended for one year. His salespeople:
A. May operate the broker’s business for the balance of the license year
B. Have ninety days to obtain another broker’s sponsorship or lose their licenses
C. Cannot perform any of the duties of a salesperson until their licenses are transferred to a
new sponsoring broker
D. Must transfer their licenses to the Real Estate Commission and wait for the broker’s license to be
reinstated
The correct answer is C. When a broker’s license is suspended, all of his sponsored agents’ licenses become inactive and they cannot perform any of the duties of a salesperson until their licenses are transferred to a new sponsoring broker.
- The Equal Credit Opportunity Act applies to:
A. A person that makes loans on a regular basis
B. A lending institution that makes loans on a regular basis
C. Seller financing
D. Both A and B
The correct answer is D. ECOA does not apply to seller financing. It would apply to someone who makes loans on a regular basis and it applies to lending institutions.
- The size of a homestead in Texas is:
A. Not limited. A person may homestead all property that the person owns.
B. Limited to 200 acres for a married couple, and 100 acres for a single person if it is a rural
homestead.
C. Limited to no more than 10 acres of land if it is an urban homestead.
D. Both B and C
The correct answer is D. A homestead is limited in size in Texas. A homestead is a constitutional right but
if a person wants a homestead tax exemption the person must file with the tax assessor.
31. The right of the government to take ownership of privately held real estate for public use is: A. Property tax B. Escheat C. Homestead D. Eminent domain
The correct answer is D. Eminent domain is one of the governments rights to privately owned land. The
government must pay the owner of the land fair market value for the land that is taken.
- The owner of a property that is sold at a tax sale has the right to redeem the property after the tax
sale. This is:
A. Statutory redemption
B. Equitable redemption
C. Discount redemption
D. Public redemption
The correct answer is A. If the property was homestead or agricultural property, the owner has 2 years to redeem the property. If the property was not homestead or agricultural, the owner only has 6 months in which to redeem the property.
- If a complaint is filed against a licensee through the Texas Real Estate Commission and the
Commission finds the licensee guilty of a violation of the Texas Real Estate Licensee Act, the
licensee can appeal to the:
A. Attorney General’s office
B. Texas governor
C. District court
D. Local board of REALTORS®
The correct answer is C. If the licensee is found guilty by TREC, the licensee may appeal in the district
court in the county in which the hearing was held.
- An applicant for a salesperson license must complete at least ________ semester hours, or
equivalent classroom hours, of postsecondary education.
A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 14
The correct answer is C. 12 semester hours is another way of saying 180 classroom hours.
36. A report of all the insurance claims made on a property is called a: A. FEMA report B. Not available C. CLUE® report D. OWN® report
The correct answer is C. CLUE® stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange.
- The Texas Real Estate Commission is composed of:
A. 3 broker members and 6 public members
B. 6 brokers and 6 lawyers
C. 6 broker members and 3 public members
D. All commission members must be licensed brokers for 5 years.
The correct answer is C. The governor appoints the 9 members (6 broker members and 3 public
members).
38. When a contract appears to be good and binding but, in fact, one of the parties may legally reject it, the contract is said to be: A. Valid B. Voidable C. Void D. Unenforceable
The correct answer is B. A voidable contract binds only one party to the contract. The other party is not
bound to the contract. Example: A contract with a minor. The minor is not bound to the contract.
Therefore, the contract is voidable.
- Legal action to force the breaching party to carry out the remainder of a contract is called a suit:
A. For liquidated damages
B. For specific performance
C. Equal to the agent’s commission
D. For the minimum required to make the contract valid
The correct answer is B. A suite for specific performance is only used to enforce a contract. It cannot be
used to enforce an offer. An offer can be withdrawn at any time before it is accepted.
- The primary duty of a real estate agent is:
A. To represent the interests of the client
B. To protect the broker in any potential lawsuit
C. To meet the needs of the customer
D. To be flexible in working with buyers
The correct answer is A. An agent works for the interests of the client and with the customer
42. Most real estate licensees make their living from: A. Residential brokerage B. Commercial brokerage C. Property management D. Apartment locating
The correct answer is A. A real estate license allows a licensee to do any type of transaction, but there
are more residential transactions. Therefore, more agents do residential real estate.
43. A license to use land is: A. An estate in land B. A personal privilege given to someone to use land C. A type of lease D. Limited to 500 acres
The correct answer is B. A license to use land is a personal privilege given to someone to use land. It is
not ownership in land. An example of a license to use land could be a ticket to a sporting event or a movie
theater.
- “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home” is a booklet that must be given to the buyer if the
buyer is making an offer on a property that was built prior to:
A. 1908
B. 1978
C. 1979
D. 1966
The correct answer is B. The seller of a property built before 1978 must disclose to the buyer that the
property could contain lead-based paint. The pamphlet about lead is given by the seller to the buyer.
- A real estate license issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission must:
A. Be prominently displayed by all licensees
B. Be displayed by all brokers
C. Be prominently displayed by a residential rental locator
D. Be displayed by all salespersons
The correct answer is C. The agents in an apartment locator office must display their licenses. The agents
in a sales office do not have to display their license.
46. The act of refusing home loans to areas or neighborhoods deemed poor financial risk is: A. Steering B. Redlining C. Legal D. Blockbusting
The correct answer is B. Redlining always to an area or a neighborhood. It is as if the lender has drawn a
red line around the neighborhood and is refusing to make loans to everyone in that neighborhood. The
lender must qualify each applicant for a loan and base their decision to make the loan on the applicant’s
qualifications
- The responsibilities of the Texas Real Estate Commission include all the following except:
A. Granting licenses to applicants
B. Regulating brokerage fees
C. Protecting the public interest
D. Regulating the activities of licensees
The correct answer is B. TREC does not set the amount of commissions charged for brokerage services.
48. A claim that limits fee simple title to property is referred to as: A. An encroachment B. An easement C. Escheat D. An encumbrance
The correct answer is D. An encumbrance is a claim on the property that limits the fee simple estate. An
encroachment and an easement are examples of an encumbrance.
- No two parcels of land are exactly alike because no two parcels can occupy the same position on the
globe. This is known as:
A. Township
B. Section
C. Scarcity
D. Nonhomogeneity
The correct answer is D. Each parcel of land has its own legal description and it is not like any other legal
description in the world.
50. The Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee consists of how many members? A. 13 B. 9 C. 62 D. 18
The correct answer is A. The Broker-Lawyer Committee is made up of 13 members. The six brokers are
appointed by TREC and the six lawyers are appointed by the president of the state bar. The governor
appoints the one public member.
- Johnson grants an estate in land to Jones with the stipulation that ownership reverts to Johnson on
Jones’ death. In this situation, Jones owns a(n):
A. Life estate
B. Qualified fee estate
C. Fee simple estate
D. Estate less than freehold
The correct answer is A. Jones owns the property as long as he is alive. He cannot leave the property to
his heir because Johnson holds a reversionary estate in the property.
- Effective September 1, 2012, a broker who sponsors a salesperson:
A. May not operate a real estate company from a home office
B. Must attend at least 6 classroom hours of broker responsibility education during the term
of the current license
C. May not sponsor more than 100 people
D. Must also be licensed in another state
The correct answer is B. A sponsoring broker as well as an agent who is in charge of other agents must
take the 6-hour broker responsibility class.
- A consumer may file a lawsuit against a broker for a false, misleading, or deceptive act. This lawsuit
would be filed under:
A. IABS
B. DTPA
C. IREM
D. Consumers are not allowed to sue brokers.
The correct answer is B. The Deceptive Trade Practices Act requires the lawsuit be filed within 2 years.
- A law that requires all contracts for the sale of real estate be in writing and signed in order to be
enforceable in a court of law is known as:
A. Statute of frauds
B. Law of agency
C. Law of contracts
D. Lawful objective
The correct answer is A. The first statute of frauds law was passed by the English Parliament in 1677.
55. Telephone, electric, and gas line easements are examples of: A. Easements by necessity B. Easements by prescription C. Easements in gross D. Easements appurtenant
The correct answer is C. An easement appurtenant is an easement that is used between two lots to allow
the owner of one lot to cross the other’s property. An easement by necessity is created when a property
has become landlocked. An easement by prescription is an easement granted after the dominant estate
has used the property for 10 years
56. A right or privilege one party has to the use of the land of another for a special purpose consistent with the general use of the land is: A. An easement B. A deed restriction C. A mortgage D. A covenant
The correct answer is A. The party will never own the land. The easement only gives them the right to use
the land.
57. An agency relationship is always created at the: A. Broker level B. Customer level C. Salesperson level D. None of the above
The correct answer is A. Agency is created at the broker level. The broker owes a fiduciary duty the client.
58. Demand for property can be affected by: A. Population growth and wage levels B. Price of housing and unemployment C. None of the above D. Both A and B
The correct answer is D. Demand is the number of buyers in the market. Any of the items in A and B will
affect the number of buyers in the market.
- The four unities of time, title, interest, and possession are used in:
A. Tenancy in common
B. Joint tenancy with the right of survivorship
C. Estate in severalty
D. All properties
The correct answer is B. Joint tenancy with the right of survivorship is a form of ownership of a property
by more than one person. All the owners must take ownership of the property at the same time, with the
same title, have the same interest, and have the same right of possession.
- The determination of what constitutes a fixture primarily revolves around:
A. The method of annexation
B. The fitness or adaptation to a particular use of the premises
C. The intention of the parties
D. All of the above
The correct answer is D. The intention of the parties is the most important test of a fixture. A ceiling fan is
an example of a fixture.
- An unlicensed person owns 2 rental homes. He advertises the homes for sale and finds a tenant for
one of the homes. Is he required to have a real estate license?
A. No, because he is the owner of the home.
B. Yes, because he owns more than one home.
C. Yes, because he advertised the property for rent.
D. No, because he had a license that expired 6 years ago.
The correct answer is A. A license is never required when the person is buying or selling property that
belongs to them