Free Ohio Real Estate Practice Exam 2026

Ohio real estate exam sample questions and answers

6 of the 120 practice questions, one from each topic, with the answer explained.

1. 1. A company pays a homeowner $500 for the exclusive right to list the home at a future date, recorded as a lien that binds later owners. For an Ohio licensee, entering this agreement is:

   • A.Allowed for up to ten years
   • B.Grounds for discipline
   • C.Allowed with seller disclosure
   • D.Allowed if it is recorded

   Answer: B. ORC 4735.01(II) defines a right-to-list home sale agreement as payment for a future exclusive listing right that runs with the land or acts as a lien, and 4735.18(A)(39) makes entering one a ground for discipline. Recording it does not cure the violation.

2. 2. If an Ohio licensee gives a buyer the names of home inspectors, the licensee must provide:

   • A.One inspector the broker endorses
   • B.At least two certified inspectors
   • C.Every licensed inspector nearby
   • D.At least three licensed inspectors

   Answer: D. ORC 4735.22 requires a licensee who provides any home inspector's name to provide at least three, each licensed under Chapter 4764. Giving the names is not an endorsement, and a licensee need not give names at all.

3. 3. A lender rejects a loan applicant because much of her income comes from public assistance, though it is reliable and ongoing. Under ECOA, this is:

   • A.Illegal discrimination in lending
   • B.Permitted because assistance is not earned income
   • C.Permitted if all applicants are treated alike
   • D.Permitted for loans over the conforming limit

   Answer: A. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or receipt of public assistance income. A lender may judge whether income is reliable, but may not reject it because its source is public assistance.

4. 4. A seller prepaid the $4,320 annual taxes for the calendar year. Closing is April 20, the seller owns the closing day, and a 360-day year is used. What does the buyer owe the seller?

   • A.$3,012
   • B.$1,320
   • C.$3,000
   • D.$2,958.90

   Answer: C. Daily tax is $4,320 / 360 = $12; the buyer owns April 21-30 (10 days) plus May through December (8 x 30 = 240 days), or 250 days, so 250 x $12 = $3,000 is credited to the seller. Using a 365-day rate gives $2,958.90, and giving the buyer the closing day gives 251 days, or $3,012.

5. 5. A salesperson plans to cold-call homeowners about listing their homes. Under federal Do Not Call rules, the salesperson 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.

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.