Real Estate License Exam Prep: The National Exam
A career-pathway course that takes a high-school student from zero to a full-length practice national real estate licensing exam — the portion every state’s exam shares — through the true stories behind the law of land: colonial surveyors and the Willamette Stone, the zoning case from Euclid, Ohio, the savings-and-loan crisis that built appraisal law, the Statute of Frauds, and the fair-housing and lending laws that govern every transaction today.
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What to cover
50 of 50 lessons are MUST COVER. They are tested on the unit tests and exams, or are skills the SAT/ACT relies on. OPTIONAL lessons are enrichment. Do them if time allows. The course is complete when the MUST COVER lessons are done.
Unit 1: Land and Its Description
- MUST COVER 1.1 Real Property and the Things Fixed to It · exam
- MUST COVER 1.2 Why Land Is Different: The Characteristics of Real Property · exam
- MUST COVER 1.3 Metes and Bounds: Walking the Line · exam
- MUST COVER 1.4 Sections and Townships: The Rectangular Survey and the Recorded Plat · exam
- MUST COVER 1.5 Above, Below and Beside: Air, Mineral and Water Rights · exam
Unit 2: Ownership, Estates and Encumbrances
- MUST COVER 2.1 The Bundle of Rights and the Freehold Estates · exam
- MUST COVER 2.2 Leasehold Estates: What a Tenant Owns · exam
- MUST COVER 2.3 Owning Together: Severalty, Tenancy in Common and Joint Tenancy · exam
- MUST COVER 2.4 Condominiums, Cooperatives, Timeshares and Trusts · exam
- MUST COVER 2.5 Liens, Easements and Encroachments · exam
Unit 3: Land Use, Taxes and the Environment
- MUST COVER 3.1 The Four Powers of Government · exam
- MUST COVER 3.2 Zoning and Planning: Euclid v. Ambler · exam
- MUST COVER 3.3 Private Controls: Deed Restrictions, CC&Rs and Owners’ Associations · exam
- MUST COVER 3.4 Property Taxes and Special Assessments · exam
- MUST COVER 3.5 Environmental Hazards and the Law · exam
Unit 4: Valuation
- MUST COVER 4.1 What Makes Value · exam
- MUST COVER 4.2 The Appraiser and the Appraisal · exam
- MUST COVER 4.3 The Sales Comparison Approach · exam
- MUST COVER 4.4 The Cost Approach and Depreciation · exam
- MUST COVER 4.5 The Income Approach · exam
Unit 5: Financing: Notes, Loans and Lenders
- MUST COVER 5.1 Notes, Mortgages and Deeds of Trust · exam
- MUST COVER 5.2 Loan Arithmetic: Interest, Points, LTV and PITI · exam
- MUST COVER 5.3 Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA Loans · exam
- MUST COVER 5.4 ARMs, Balloons, Reverse Mortgages and Seller Financing · exam
- MUST COVER 5.5 The Secondary Market and Foreclosure · exam
Unit 6: Lending Law, Title and Closing
- MUST COVER 6.1 Truth in Lending and the Fair Lender · exam
- MUST COVER 6.2 RESPA, TRID and the Closing Disclosures · exam
- MUST COVER 6.3 Deeds and the Transfer of Title · exam
- MUST COVER 6.4 Recording, Title Search and Title Insurance · exam
- MUST COVER 6.5 The Closing: Prorations, Debits and Credits · exam
Unit 7: Contracts
- MUST COVER 7.1 What Makes a Contract Valid · exam
- MUST COVER 7.2 Performance, Breach and Remedies · exam
- MUST COVER 7.3 The Purchase Agreement · exam
- MUST COVER 7.4 Options, Rights of First Refusal and Installment Contracts · exam
- MUST COVER 7.5 Leases and the Law of Landlord and Tenant · exam
Unit 8: Agency and Disclosure
- MUST COVER 8.1 What Agency Is: Principals, Agents and Customers · exam
- MUST COVER 8.2 The Fiduciary Duties · exam
- MUST COVER 8.3 Listing Agreements · exam
- MUST COVER 8.4 Buyer Agency, Dual Agency and Other Relationships · exam
- MUST COVER 8.5 Property Disclosures and Material Facts · exam
Unit 9: The Practice of Real Estate
- MUST COVER 9.1 Fair Housing: The Law and Its History · exam
- MUST COVER 9.2 Accessibility, Accommodations and Fair Treatment · exam
- MUST COVER 9.3 Antitrust and Other People’s Money · exam
- MUST COVER 9.4 Running a Lawful Brokerage · exam
- MUST COVER 9.5 Property Management · exam
Unit 10: The Math, the State Exam and the Road to the License
- MUST COVER 10.1 The Math Toolkit: Percentages, Area and Acreage · exam
- MUST COVER 10.2 Money Math: Commissions, Loans, Taxes and Prorations · exam
- MUST COVER 10.3 Investment Math and the Taxman · exam
- MUST COVER 10.4 The State Portion: License Law in the Northwest and Beyond · exam
- MUST COVER 10.5 Exam Day and the Road to the License · exam
36-week pacing calendar
From the course’s own 33-week pacing guide, with catch-up and review weeks added to fill a 36-week (180-day) year.
| Week | Plan | Done | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | Day 1: Lesson 1.1 Real Property and the Things Fixed to It: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 1.1: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 1.1: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 1.2 Why Land Is Different: The Characteristics of Real Property: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 1.2: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 2 | Day 1: Lesson 1.2: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 1.3 Metes and Bounds: Walking the Line: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 1.3: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 1.3: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 1.4 Sections and Townships: The Rectangular Survey and the Recorded Plat: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 3 | Day 1: Lesson 1.4: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 1.4: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 1.5 Above, Below and Beside: Air, Mineral and Water Rights: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 1.5: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 1.5: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 4 | Day 1: Unit 1 test Day 2: Lesson 2.1 The Bundle of Rights and the Freehold Estates: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 2.1: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 2.1: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 2.2 Leasehold Estates: What a Tenant Owns: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 5 | Day 1: Lesson 2.2: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 2.2: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 2.3 Owning Together: Severalty, Tenancy in Common and Joint Tenancy: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 2.3: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 2.3: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 6 | Day 1: Lesson 2.4 Condominiums, Cooperatives, Timeshares and Trusts: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 2.4: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 2.4: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 2.5 Liens, Easements and Encroachments: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 2.5: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 7 | Day 1: Lesson 2.5: practice set and corrections Day 2: Unit 2 test Day 3: Lesson 3.1 The Four Powers of Government: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 3.1: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 3.1: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 8 | Day 1: Lesson 3.2 Zoning and Planning: Euclid v. Ambler: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 3.2: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 3.2: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 3.3 Private Controls: Deed Restrictions, CC&Rs and Owners’ Associations: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 3.3: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 9 | Day 1: Lesson 3.3: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 3.4 Property Taxes and Special Assessments: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 3.4: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 3.4: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 3.5 Environmental Hazards and the Law: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 10 | Day 1: Lesson 3.5: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 3.5: practice set and corrections Day 3: Unit 3 test Day 4: Lesson 4.1 What Makes Value: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 4.1: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 11 | Day 1: Lesson 4.1: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 4.2 The Appraiser and the Appraisal: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 4.2: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 4.2: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 4.3 The Sales Comparison Approach: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 12 | Day 1: Lesson 4.3: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 4.3: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 4.4 The Cost Approach and Depreciation: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 4.4: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 4.4: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 13 | Day 1: Lesson 4.5 The Income Approach: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 4.5: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 4.5: practice set and corrections Day 4: Unit 4 test Day 5: Lesson 5.1 Notes, Mortgages and Deeds of Trust: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 14 | Day 1: Lesson 5.1: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 5.1: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 5.2 Loan Arithmetic: Interest, Points, LTV and PITI: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 5.2: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 5.2: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 15 | Day 1: Lesson 5.3 Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA Loans: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 5.3: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 5.3: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 5.4 ARMs, Balloons, Reverse Mortgages and Seller Financing: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 5.4: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 16 | Day 1: Lesson 5.4: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 5.5 The Secondary Market and Foreclosure: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 5.5: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 5.5: practice set and corrections Day 5: Unit 5 test | ||
| Wk 17 | Catch-up and review week (no new lessons) | ||
| Wk 18 | Day 1: Review day for the midterm Day 2: Midterm exam (60 questions, 90 minutes, one sitting) Day 3: Lesson 6.1 Truth in Lending and the Fair Lender: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 6.1: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 6.1: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 19 | Day 1: Lesson 6.2 RESPA, TRID and the Closing Disclosures: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 6.2: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 6.2: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 6.3 Deeds and the Transfer of Title: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 6.3: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 20 | Day 1: Lesson 6.3: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 6.4 Recording, Title Search and Title Insurance: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 6.4: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 6.4: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 6.5 The Closing: Prorations, Debits and Credits: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 21 | Day 1: Lesson 6.5: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 6.5: practice set and corrections Day 3: Unit 6 test Day 4: Lesson 7.1 What Makes a Contract Valid: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 7.1: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 22 | Day 1: Lesson 7.1: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 7.2 Performance, Breach and Remedies: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 7.2: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 7.2: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 7.3 The Purchase Agreement: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 23 | Day 1: Lesson 7.3: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 7.3: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 7.4 Options, Rights of First Refusal and Installment Contracts: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 7.4: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 7.4: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 24 | Day 1: Lesson 7.5 Leases and the Law of Landlord and Tenant: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 7.5: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 7.5: practice set and corrections Day 4: Unit 7 test Day 5: Lesson 8.1 What Agency Is: Principals, Agents and Customers: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 25 | Day 1: Lesson 8.1: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 8.1: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 8.2 The Fiduciary Duties: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 8.2: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 8.2: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 26 | Day 1: Lesson 8.3 Listing Agreements: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 8.3: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 8.3: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 8.4 Buyer Agency, Dual Agency and Other Relationships: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 8.4: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 27 | Day 1: Lesson 8.4: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 8.5 Property Disclosures and Material Facts: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 8.5: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 8.5: practice set and corrections Day 5: Unit 8 test | ||
| Wk 28 | Day 1: Lesson 9.1 Fair Housing: The Law and Its History: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 9.1: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 9.1: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 9.2 Accessibility, Accommodations and Fair Treatment: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 9.2: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 29 | Day 1: Lesson 9.2: practice set and corrections Day 2: Lesson 9.3 Antitrust and Other People’s Money: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 9.3: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 9.3: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 9.4 Running a Lawful Brokerage: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 30 | Day 1: Lesson 9.4: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 9.4: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 9.5 Property Management: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 9.5: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 9.5: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 31 | Day 1: Unit 9 test Day 2: Lesson 10.1 The Math Toolkit: Percentages, Area and Acreage: video, teaching and worked examples Day 3: Lesson 10.1: project and notebook Day 4: Lesson 10.1: practice set and corrections Day 5: Lesson 10.2 Money Math: Commissions, Loans, Taxes and Prorations: video, teaching and worked examples | ||
| Wk 32 | Day 1: Lesson 10.2: project and notebook Day 2: Lesson 10.2: practice set and corrections Day 3: Lesson 10.3 Investment Math and the Taxman: video, teaching and worked examples Day 4: Lesson 10.3: project and notebook Day 5: Lesson 10.3: practice set and corrections | ||
| Wk 33 | Day 1: Lesson 10.4 The State Portion: License Law in the Northwest and Beyond: video, teaching and worked examples Day 2: Lesson 10.4: project and notebook Day 3: Lesson 10.4: practice set and corrections Day 4: Lesson 10.5 Exam Day and the Road to the License: video, teaching and worked examples Day 5: Lesson 10.5: project and notebook | ||
| Wk 34 | Day 1: Lesson 10.5: practice set and corrections Day 2: Unit 10 test Day 3: Review day for the final Day 4: Final exam: a full-length practice national exam (100 questions, two and a half hours, one sitting) Day 5: Score the final as a testing company would (70 of 100 passes in most states; 75 in Oregon), review every miss, and plan the real licensing steps with your parents | ||
| Wk 35 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 36 | Year-end review, portfolio and records |
Grading: Practice sets (completed and corrected) 15%, Projects (real numbers, organization, explanation) 20%, Exam notebook (definitions, tables, trap lists, corrected misses) 10%, Unit tests 30%, Midterm exam (60 questions, timed) 10%, Final exam (full-length 100-question practice national exam, timed) 15%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60.