Free Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam 2026

Illinois real estate exam sample questions and answers

6 of the 140 practice questions, one from each topic, with the answer explained.

1. 1. A designated agent is writing offers on the same house for two buyer clients at the same time. Under Illinois law, the agent must:

   • A.Act as a dual agent for both buyers
   • B.Disclose it in writing to both
   • C.Stop representing both buyers
   • D.Choose the stronger buyer

   Answer: B. 225 ILCS 454/15-15(b) and Rule 1450.830 say preparing contemporaneous offers is not a breach of duty if the agent gives written disclosure to both clients. Either client who asks must be referred to another designated agent.

2. 2. Under the Illinois Radon Resistant Construction Act, every new single-family home must include:

   • A.A sealed radon-proof slab
   • B.An active radon mitigation fan
   • C.A radon test before sale
   • D.Passive radon-resistant pipe

   Answer: D. 420 ILCS 52/20 requires all new residential construction to include passive radon-resistant construction, which Section 15 defines as a passive new construction pipe venting soil gas above the roof. An active fan system is not required by the Act.

3. 3. At closing, the seller signs and delivers the deed to the buyer, who accepts it. Recording the deed afterward primarily serves to:

   • A.Give constructive notice of ownership
   • B.Release the seller's existing mortgage
   • C.Make the deed valid between the buyer and seller
   • D.Transfer possession to the buyer

   Answer: A. Title passes on delivery and acceptance, so the deed is already valid between the parties; recording gives the public constructive notice and protects the buyer against later claims. Possession transfers as the sales contract provides, not by recording.

4. 4. An Illinois broker plans to cold-call homeowners about listing their homes. Under federal Do Not Call rules, the broker must:

   • A.Call only on weekdays
   • B.Get written consent before every call
   • C.Check the registry at least every 31 days
   • D.Register with HUD as a telemarketer

   Answer: C. Telemarketers, including real estate licensees making cold calls, must scrub their call lists against the National Do Not Call Registry at least every 31 days. Federal rules allow calls between 8 in the morning and 9 at night on any day, not only weekdays.

5. 5. A bank that owns a foreclosed home asks a broker for a quick estimate of its probable selling price. The broker's report is a:

   • A.Assessed valuation
   • B.Comparative market analysis
   • C.Broker price opinion
   • D.Certified appraisal

   Answer: C. A broker price opinion (BPO) is the term used for a broker's estimate of probable selling price prepared for a lender or other third party, often on distressed property. Under 225 ILCS 454/10-45 either a BPO or a CMA must be in writing and state that it is not an appraisal.

6. 6. A buyer wants protection against covered title defects for as long as she or her heirs own the home. She should purchase:

   • A.An owner's title policy
   • B.An updated abstract of title
   • C.A one-year home warranty
   • D.A lender's (mortgagee's) title policy

   Answer: A. An owner's policy protects the buyer and her heirs for as long as they hold title, up to the policy amount. A lender's policy protects only the mortgagee and declines as the loan is paid down, while an abstract is merely a summary of the recorded documents.