Prep Course Pre Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Under authority of a signed exclusive agency listing, broker Davis diligently advertised for sale the $165,000 home of owner Johnson. Before the expiration date of the listing, Johnson sold the home to a friend. Davis was refused payment of any commission. Davis is legally entitled to receive from Johnson
A) one-half commission.
B) full commission.
C) all expenses incurred in advertising the home.
D) no commission.

A

D) no commission.
The answer is no commission. The broker is entitled to no commission. An exclusive agency listing is one in which a broker is employed as the sole agent for the seller of real property. Under the terms of such agreements, the broker is entitled to a commission if the property is sold through any other broker but not if a sale is negotiated by the owner without the services of an agent.

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2
Q
An investor purchased an apartment building with a very small down payment and was able to secure financing for the balance. A year later, the investor sold the property for profit with no increase in the original investment. This is an example of
A) subordination.
B) inflation.
C) leverage.
D) debt reduction.
A

C) leverage.

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3
Q

The maximum that may be recovered from the Consumer Recovery Account against one licensee is

A

$250,000

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4
Q

A blind ad is advertising by a licensee who does not disclose in the ad

A

that the property is offered through an agent rather than by a principal.

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5
Q

A commercial acre is BEST defined as

A

an acre after deductions for streets and alleys.
A commercial acre is the remainder of an acre of newly subdivided land after deduction of areas devoted to streets, sidewalks, curbs, and the like.

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6
Q
The customary procedure used to enforce private restrictions on real property is
A) an indictment.
B) a desist and refrain order.
C) an injunction.
D) a judgment.
A

C) an injunction.
An injunction is a court order restraining or requiring performance by a party to a suit (such as performing acts required by property covenants or refraining from acts restricted by such covenants).

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7
Q

A lot that contained a structure of no value was appraised for highest and best use. The appraiser would
A) appraise the value of the land and add the cost of demolition.
B) ignore the structure’s salvage cost.
C) appraise the value of the land and ignore the cost of demolition.
D) appraise the value of the land and deduct the cost of demolition.

A

D) appraise the value of the land and deduct the cost of demolition.

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8
Q

Harris, an unlicensed person, wanted to purchase 300 acres of land for $85,000 from Stevens, who intended to subdivide the property in the future. Harris did not have the money for the purchase and convinced a friend, Williams, to purchase the property. Harris immediately entered into a land sales contract with Williams to purchase the property for $98,000. With respect to the above statements, which of the following is TRUE?
A) The original transaction is valid, but the subsequent sale is invalid.
B) Both transactions would be considered unenforceable.
C) The original purchase and subsequent sale are both valid.
D) The second transaction is illegal.

A

C) The original purchase and subsequent sale are both valid.

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9
Q

Under the 1911 Street Improvement Act, funds may be raised by the local government, benefiting a subdivider, for all the following purposes EXCEPT
A) payment for offsite improvements.
B) purchase of land for a subdivision.
C) payment for streets, walks, and curbs.
D) payment for drainage system.

A

B) purchase of land for a subdivision.
The 1911 Street Improvement Act authorizes the local government to order improvements and pass the expense on to the landowner. This authority cannot be used for the original purchase of the land for a subdivision.

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10
Q

Which would be the MOST important consideration when planning a shopping center in a suburban community?
A) Purchasing power
B) Proximity of shipping and warehousing facilities
C) Weather
D) Amenities

A

A) Purchasing power

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11
Q
Which of the following items would MOST likely be short rated in escrow?
A) Real estate taxes
B) Trust deed
C) Insurance
D) Interest
A

C) Insurance
The answer is insurance. Taxes, and interest in an assumption, are usually prorated in escrow. If the seller’s insurance is taken over by the buyer, the seller will be credited proportionately (pro rata) for the portion of the premium the buyer is debited for. When the buyer gets new insurance, the seller’s policy will be canceled and the premium returned to the seller by the insurance company, short rated on a uniform schedule approved by the insurance commissioner.

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12
Q

A broker sells a house, and a loan for the buyer is secured through a savings and loan association. The broker carefully explains all loan costs to the buyer. According to TILA-RESPA Rule, which of the following is TRUE?
A) The broker must provide the buyer with an estimate of settlement costs within one week.
B) The creditor must provide the consumer with a Loan Estimate form within three days after receiving an application.
C) The broker does not have to provide an estimate of settlement costs to the buyer because all costs were explained.
D) The lender must immediately provide an estimate of settlement costs to the buyer.

A

B) The creditor must provide the consumer with a Loan Estimate form within three days after receiving an application.
Under RESPA, the lender must furnish a copy of Your Home Loan Toolkit booklet prescribed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, together with a Loan Estimate form of closing costs to every person from whom the lender receives a written application for a first mortgage loan.

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13
Q
A builder submitted building plans that included design specifications and materials for approval. When reviewing these plans, the building inspector determined that although some of the proposed materials did not comply with local building codes, the use of these materials would not constitute a safety hazard. Therefore, the inspector approved the plans. This is an example of
A) a variance.
B) an exception.
C) an infraction.
D) a permit.
A

B) an exception.
This is an example of an exception made by a building inspector. The term variance applies to permission to use land for a purpose that does not strictly conform to a zoning restriction. If approved by a building inspector, it is not an infraction.

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14
Q
When comparing physical life to economic life, the economic life usually
A) is the same.
B) depends on the improvements.
C) is greater.
D) is lesser.
A

D) is lesser.
The economic life is the period in which the building earns sufficient income to support itself. The physical life is how long the building will remain standing, which is typically much longer than the economic life.

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15
Q

A broker negotiated a loan for a client. The beneficiary did not specifically instruct the broker to record. The broker is obligated to record
A) within 10 days of the date that funds are disbursed.
B) at the same time the funds are disbursed.
C) before the funds are disbursed.
D) immediately after the funds are disbursed.

A

C) before the funds are disbursed.
Article 5 of the Real Estate Law stipulates the following: Unless a lender has given written authorization to the broker, the broker may not disburse the loan funds until after recording the trust deed securing the note evidencing the loan. If the lender has given the broker authority to release funds prior to recordation, the securing trust deed must be recorded, or delivered to the obligee with a written recommendation for immediate recordation, within ten days, following the disbursement of loan funds.

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16
Q
Who would provide a quitclaim deed to quiet a title?
A) Grantor
B) Grantee
C) Trustor
D) None of these
A

A) Grantor

Quitclaim deeds are executed by grantors to clear up conflicting claims or deficiencies in titles.

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17
Q

An escrow can be terminated by

A

mutual consent of the parties.

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18
Q
All these are necessary for the creation of an agency agreement EXCEPT
A) a fiduciary relationship.
B) consideration.
C) mutual agreement of the parties.
D) competency of the seller.
A

B) consideration.

Consideration is not required of an agency relationship. The agency may be a gratuitous agency.

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19
Q

Which is TRUE of a listing agent who gave part of his commission to the buyer?
A) He is guilty of criminal action.
B) He must disclose this to the seller.
C) He is guilty of committing a civilly wrong act.
D) He may be disciplined by the real estate commission.

A

B) He must disclose this to the seller.

This would be considered a material fact, so it must be disclosed to the seller.

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20
Q

All of the following are true regarding an appurtenant easement EXCEPT
A) the easement would run with the land.
B) the dominant tenement would benefit and the servient tenement would be burdened.
C) there must be at least two tracts of land under separate ownership.
D) the dominant tenement must abut the servient tenement at the border.

A

D) the dominant tenement must abut the servient tenement at the border.
The dominant tenement may have the right to cross over three or four lots in one tract, and not all the servient tenements would be immediately adjacent (contiguous) to the dominant tenement.

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21
Q
Which of the following elements is NOT necessary in the formation of a contract?
A) Offer
B) Acceptance
C) Performance
D) Consideration
A

C) Performance
The other choices are essentially found in the creation of a contract. Performance is the desired result and not essential in the formation of a contract.

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22
Q
In the appraisal of property, the principle of substitution would apply to
A) any of these.
B) the sales comparison approach.
C) the cost approach.
D) the income approach.
A

A) any of these.

23
Q

To manage properties for the general public, an individual must be a
A) licensed broker.
B) member of a rental service that lists apartments for rent.
C) certified property manager (CPM).
D) nothing is required.

A

A) licensed broker.
California Business and Professionals Code Section 10131 (b) requires a broker’s licensee of anyone who, for others and for compensation, “leases or rents” real property or a business opportunity.

24
Q
A tenant who transfers an entire leasehold interest does so by
A) assignment.
B) alienation.
C) sublease.
D) transfer.
A

A) assignment.
Assignment of leasehold means that the entire interest is transferred and includes the remaining term and the entire premises. Subleasing is transferring part of the premises or less than the entire term.

25
Q

In real estate finance, a beneficiary statement refers to the
A) amount of profit realized by a lender.
B) terms of a lease.
C) amount of money an heir would inherit.
D) amount of principal due on a loan.

A

D) amount of principal due on a loan.
A beneficiary’s statement (a.k.a. “bene” statement) is a statement issued by a lender giving the remaining principal balance and other information concerning the loan. Escrow agents usually write for this statement when an owner wishes to sell, assume, or refinance property.

26
Q

From the lender’s point of view, the MOST significant factor concerning a purchase money first mortgage is that it takes priority over
A) any liens against the purchaser at the time of purchase.
B) any liens against the seller at the time of sale.
C) real property tax liens.
D) all liens at the time of sale.

A

B) any liens against the seller at the time of sale.
A purchase money lien in real property will take priority over all other liens created against the purchaser, subject to the operation of the recording laws (Civil Code Section 2898).

27
Q

Which of the following distinguishes a mechanic’s lien from a judgment lien?
A) Mechanic’s liens are created by statute.
B) Mechanic’s liens may take priority before the recording date.
C) Judgment liens are not effective until recorded.
D) Judgment liens are involuntary liens.

A

A) Mechanic’s liens are created by statute.
Whereas mechanics liens are created by statute, judgment liens are created by court decisions. Both may take priority before the recording date. Neither is effective as a lien until recorded. Both are involuntary liens.

28
Q

An agency agreement may be terminated by all of the following EXCEPT
A) a principal’s refusal of an offer to purchase presented in the name of a third person.
B) destruction by fire of the property that is subject matter of the agency agreement.
C) renunciation of the agreement by the agent.
D) mutual termination by both the principal and the agent prior to the original termination period.

A

A) a principal’s refusal of an offer to purchase presented in the name of a third person.
The parties may agree to terminate the agency. An agent may renounce it. An agency is terminated by extinction of the subject matter, but a principal’s refusal of an offer to purchase does not terminate an agency agreement.

29
Q
Which of the following might be used as a security device to encumber real property?
A) Any of these
B) Mortgage
C) Trust deed
D) Land contract
A

A) Any of these
Mortgages and trust deeds are the security for promissory notes. A land contract is also a security device by which the seller retains legal title as security for payment of the purchase price.

30
Q
The objective of the Subdivided Lands Law is to protect purchasers of property in new subdivisions from fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit in the marketing of subdivided lots, parcels, units, and undivided interests in the State of California. An owner of land wants to subdivide her property. What is the minimum number of parcels she has to create in the new subdivision in order to fall under the Subdivided Lands Law?
A) Four
B) Three
C) Five
D) Two
A

C) Five

31
Q
Which of the following is MOST frequently employed to assure title to real property for a grantee?
A) Certificate of title
B) Warranty deed
C) Title insurance
D) Recordation of trust deed
A

C) Title insurance
The best protection for assuring title to real property is offered by means of a title insurance policy that insures against both “of” record and “off” record risk.

32
Q

Robert Smith signed an offer and gave the broker his personal check made payable to an escrow company as a deposit. He stipulated that the broker was to hold the check until the seller accepted his offer. The listing agreement specified that any deposit money must be in the form of a cashier’s check made payable to the seller. Under these circumstances, the broker should
A) hold the check but do not reveal to the seller that the check has been accepted until the seller accepts the offer.
B) submit the offer and hold the check.
C) submit the offer and deposit the check in escrow.
D) refuse to accept a deposit that does not conform to the precise terms of the listing.

A

B) submit the offer and hold the check.
Real estate law permits a broker to hold the check when ordered to do so by a principal. Because the broker was not authorized by the seller to accept a personal check, the acceptance of such a check makes the broker the agent of the buyer for the amount of the check.

33
Q

Land value is estimated whenever possible on the basis of
A) purchase price plus the cost of making on-site and off-site improvements.
B) original cost plus the expense of making it usable.
C) size, location, and utility.
D) sale prices of comparable sites.

A

D) sale prices of comparable sites.
Comparable sales data for estimating the value of land would be used “whenever possible”—that is, when an adequate number of recent sales in a given area have taken place to allow for comparisons.

34
Q

In setting up a release schedule under a blanket encumbrance, the beneficiary will usually require a disproportionate amount of money to release a particular lot
A) to have better security on the remaining lots.
B) to protect the investment as individual lots are sold.
C) because the best lots usually sell first.
D) all of these.

A

D) all of these.

35
Q
Which of the following words placed in a promissory note would commit all the borrowers for payment?
A) Individually
B) Jointly and severally
C) Individually and severally
D) Jointly
A

B) Jointly and severally
Jointly means the creditor can look to all the signers as a group; severally means the creditor can look to any one signer for the entire amount due. Co-signers on a note are jointly and severally liable.

36
Q

A broker advertises in the paper that if a seller lists a property with the broker, the broker will credit the seller with $50 toward the commission to be paid. The advertisement also states that if a prospective buyer brings a copy of the advertisement to the broker, the buyer will be credited $50 in escrow to be applied to the purchase price of the property. Is the broker subject to discipline by the real estate commissioner with regard to this advertisement?
A) The broker can credit the buyer but not the seller.
B) The broker can credit the seller but cannot credit the buyer.
C) The broker may pay the $50 to the seller and to the buyer.
D) The broker would be disciplined because the promises made to the seller and the buyer in the advertisement constitute payments to unlicensed persons.

A

C) The broker may pay the $50 to the seller and to the buyer.
The answer is the broker may pay the $50 to the seller and to the buyer. Neither of these promises by the broker are a violation of law or regulations. Neither the seller nor the buyer would be acting as an agent for another in this transaction, so no real estate license would be required of either. The courts have also ruled that disclosed payments by the broker to either the seller or the buyer would not be a violation of RESPA.

37
Q

Market price is the price

A

that a property actually brings in the open market.

38
Q

The minimum amount of time that a broker must keep signed copies of listings, deposit receipts, and other documents pertaining to real estate transactions is

A

three years.

39
Q
Which of the following is NOT essential for the creation of an agency relationship?
A) Lawful object
B) Capacity of the parties
C) Fiduciary relationship
D) Payment of consideration
A

D) Payment of consideration

40
Q

Police power is a governmental right and might result in

A

zoning standards.
The government’s police power is the basis for zoning ordinances. The taking of private property is based on the government’s rights of eminent domain. Judgments result from the power of the judicial branch of government. Deed restrictions are private restrictions.

41
Q

Under the Truth in Lending Act, the three-day right of rescission begins with which of the following events, if they occurred on different days in the sequence stated?
A) The date the disclosure statement is delivered
B) The date the funds are disbursed
C) The date the loan application is made
D) The date the note is signed

A

D) The date the note is signed
The three-day right of rescission that applies to some loans under the federal Truth in Lending Act begins with the delivery of the disclosure statement or the signing of the promissory note, whichever occurs later.

42
Q

The buyer and the seller sign escrow instructions that the broker takes to the escrow agent. The escrow agent discovers discrepancies between the escrow instructions and the purchase contract. Which of the following is TRUE?
A) The escrow instructions generally prevail because it is the most recent document.
B) The escrow agent and the broker must resolve the conflict.
C) The purchase contract must be redrafted to agree with the escrow instructions.
D) The purchase contract prevails because it is the original document.

A

A) The escrow instructions generally prevail because it is the most recent document.
A subsequent document (such as escrow instructions) will prevail over an earlier document (the purchase contract).

43
Q

Smith signed an offer to buy Brown’s property and gave the offer to the broker. The broker took the offer to Brown, who signed Smith’s offer, giving an unqualified acceptance of it. Before the broker could deliver the accepted offer to Smith, Smith died of a heart attack. Which of the following is TRUE?
A) The offer is void because the deed could not be delivered to Smith.
B) Smith’s death worked a revocation of the offer.
C) Delivery of the offer to the administrator binds Smith’s heirs.
D) The offer and unqualified acceptance constitute a valid contract.

A

B) Smith’s death worked a revocation of the offer.
The answer is Smith’s death worked a revocation of the offer. Death of the offeror, before the communication of the acceptance, revokes the offer.

44
Q
A contract signed under duress would be
A) voidable.
B) unenforceable.
C) void.
D) illegal.
A

A) voidable.
When the mutual consent to a contract is induced by fraud, duress, menace, or undue influence, the contract is voidable at the option of the wronged party. Although such a contract is unenforceable against that wronged party, the contract is not totally unenforceable because it is enforceable against the other party. Therefore, voidable is the best answer.

45
Q

Before the purchaser is advised of the seller’s acceptance of an offer, the purchaser can withdraw the offer
A) provided the offer is not irrevocable.
B) provided the offeree has breached the offer.
C) provided the offer is breached by the seller.
D) for any reason.

A

D) for any reason.
An offer may be withdrawn (revoked) by the offeror anytime before communication of the acceptance by the offeree, regardless of the offeror’s reason.

46
Q
An appraiser wants to appraise a property using comparable sale prices of similar homes. Adjustments for the difference between the home and the comparables will be made by adjusting the
A) subject property to the comparables.
B) comparables to the normal.
C) subject property to the normal.
D) comparables to the subject property.
A

D) comparables to the subject property.
In the comparison approach, an appraiser adjusts the comparable properties to the subject property in order to compensate for the differences.

47
Q

A developer who requested backfill would be using it
A) for garden landscaping.
B) for driveways.
C) for roadways.
D) to replace earth excavated from foundation walls.

A

D) to replace earth excavated from foundation walls.

Backfill is used in construction to replace earth excavated from a hole or from around a structure.

48
Q
Functional obsolescence is a decrease in value because of
A) wear and tear.
B) being outdated.
C) decline in neighborhood.
D) adverse zoning.
A

B) being outdated.
Functional obsolescence results from inherent defects and are not due to physical wear and tear or from external influences.

49
Q

A broker refers all clients and customers to West Hills Title Insurance Company. The title company gives the broker a $10 fee for each referral. This practice is
A) forbidden.
B) acceptable if the seller is paying for the policy and agrees to the referral fee.
C) permissible.
D) acceptable if both the buyer and the seller are aware that broker is receiving a fee and agree with the fee.

A

A) forbidden.
RESPA forbids kickbacks, referral fees, or any other unearned fees. Referral fees between real estate brokers are permissible, but referral fees between real estate licensees and settlement service providers are not.

50
Q
Which criterion would NOT be used to determine net income for an income property?
A) Vacancies
B) Maintenance costs
C) Mortgage interest
D) Management fees
A

B) Maintenance costs
When determining net income in the income approach to appraisal, mortgage interest is a personal expense of the owner, not an operating expense of the property.

51
Q

A selling agent who is the exclusive agent for the buyer can do all of these EXCEPT
A) submit the buyer’s offer to the seller and the seller’s agent with the seller’s approval.
B) act as the seller’s agent because the seller is paying the commission.
C) withhold negative information about the buyer.
D) personally submit the buyer’s offer to the seller.

A

B) act as the seller’s agent because the seller is paying the commission.
An agent who is an exclusive agent for the buyer cannot also act as the seller’s agent. If the buyer and the seller have knowledge and give consent, then the dual agency can exist.

52
Q

Which of the following would an appraiser use to appraise a residence built in 1910?
A) Today’s cost of reproduction
B) Cost-of-living index that increased from 95 to 128
C) Original cost of materials in 1910
D) Cost-of-living index of 1910

A

A) Today’s cost of reproduction
The appraiser is interested in today’s cost (less depreciation, of course) and value. The appraiser is not concerned about the original cost or the cost-of-living index in 1910.

53
Q

Which of the following decided the amount of commission received from the sale of property of a deceased person?
A) Administrator or executor of the estate
B) Real Estate Commissioner
C) Real estate board
D) Court order

A

D) Court order

The probate court usually must approve the sale, as well as the amount of the commission.