Exclusive right-to-sell

The listing broker — no matter who finds the buyer

The broker, unless the owner sells it themselves

Only the broker who actually finds the buyer

Broker keeps the amount above the seller's set price — a conflict of interest

Guiding buyers toward or away from areas by protected class

Inducing panic selling by claiming a protected class is moving in

A lender refusing to lend or insure in an area by its makeup

Pre-1978 housing; federal disclosure + EPA/HUD pamphlet + 10-day test window

Odorless radioactive gas from soil; common in parts of Ohio; can accumulate indoors

Old insulation/flooring; remove or encapsulate to control fibers

Grows in damp areas; may require disclosure and remediation

Underground storage tank

Can leak and contaminate soil and groundwater

What score do I need to pass the Ohio real estate exam?

You need 70% on each portion to pass, and the national and state portions are scored separately. That works out to 56 of 80 on the national portion and 28 of 40 on the Ohio portion. You must pass both portions to be licensed.

How long is the Ohio real estate exam?

You are allotted 180 minutes (three hours) to complete all 120 questions — both the national and Ohio state portions — in one session at a PSI test center. A basic calculator is available for the math questions.

What is on the Ohio state portion of the exam?

The Ohio portion tests state law: the Division of Real Estate and ORC Chapter 4735, the Ohio Real Estate Commission, agency and the Agency Disclosure Statement, the Residential Property Disclosure Form, trust accounts and the Recovery Fund, fair housing, dower, and the conveyance fee.

What education do I need before the Ohio salesperson exam?

Ohio requires 120 hours of pre-license education across four courses: 40 hours of Principles & Practices, 40 hours of Ohio Real Estate Law, 20 hours of Appraisal, and 20 hours of Finance. You must be at least 18 and a high school graduate or equivalent. Confirm current requirements with the Division.

Is there math on the Ohio real estate exam?

Yes — the exam includes calculation questions covering commission and splits, seller net, loan-to-value, property taxes and mills, the Ohio conveyance fee, area and acreage, and proration. Remember 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile. A basic calculator is provided at the test center.

What is dower and the conveyance fee in Ohio?

Dower (ORC 2103.02) gives a non-owning spouse a life-estate interest in one-third of property the other spouse owned during marriage, so the spouse usually signs the deed to release it. The conveyance fee (ORC 319.54) is a $1-per-$1,000 state transfer tax, plus up to $3 per $1,000 a county may add, customarily paid by the seller.

How often do I renew an Ohio real estate license, and how much CE is required?

Ohio licenses are renewed every three years, tied to the licensee's date of birth. Active licensees complete 30 hours of continuing education each cycle, including at least 3 hours each of Core Law, Civil Rights, and Canons of Ethics. New licensees also complete 20 hours of post-licensing education within the first year.

Is this Ohio real estate study guide free?

Yes — the full guide, the checkpoints, the glossary, the practice questions, and the flashcards are 100% free, with no account required.

Who regulates real estate licensees in Ohio?

The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, within the Department of Commerce, licenses and regulates salespersons and brokers under ORC Chapter 4735. It is led by the Superintendent of Real Estate, appointed by the Director of Commerce, who handles day-to-day licensing and discipline. This is an Ohio regulatory-framework concept. The five-member Ohio Real Estate Commission (OREC) adopts the canons of ethics and hears appeals of disciplinary actions — it is a separate body from the Division's Superintendent. Ohio real estate law flows from the statute (ORC 4735) to Ohio Administrative Code rules to the Division, which enforces both.

What is the Ohio Real Estate Commission and how is it composed?

The Ohio Real Estate Commission (OREC) is a five-member board appointed by the Governor under ORC 4735.03 — four licensed brokers with at least ten years' experience and one public member. It adopts the canons of ethics, sets policy, and hears appeals of the Superintendent's disciplinary decisions. This is an Ohio regulatory concept. The Commission makes rules and hears appeals; the Superintendent of Real Estate runs the Division and issues licenses and day-to-day discipline. Don't confuse OREC with the Division itself — the exam tests the split of duties between the Commission and the Superintendent.

What education must you complete before the Ohio salesperson exam?

Ohio requires 120 hours of pre-license education across four courses: 40 hours of Real Estate Principles & Practices, 40 hours of Ohio Real Estate Law, 20 hours of Real Estate Appraisal, and 20 hours of Real Estate Finance. The Ohio Law course must cover civil rights, housing discrimination, and desegregation. This is an Ohio licensing concept. You must be at least 18, a high school graduate or equivalent, and sponsored by a brokerage; after passing, a new licensee completes 20 hours of post-licensing education within the first year. Active licensees then complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years, including 3 hours each of Core Law, Civil Rights, and Canons of Ethics.

What is the Ohio Agency Disclosure Statement?

The Agency Disclosure Statement, required by ORC 4735.57, is the form a licensee uses to disclose whom each agent in a transaction represents — the buyer, the seller, or both. It must be provided before the party signs an offer to purchase or lease, so everyone knows the agency relationships up front. This is an Ohio agency concept and a frequent state-exam topic. It is how Ohio operationalizes its agency-disclosure rule before a binding offer is signed. When two agents from the same brokerage represent the buyer and seller, it can create a dual agency at the brokerage level that must be disclosed and consented to.

When is dual agency permitted in Ohio?

In Ohio a licensee may act as a dual agent — representing both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction — only with the informed, written consent of both clients, as disclosed on the Agency Disclosure Statement. The dual agent stays neutral and protects each client's confidential information. This is an Ohio agency concept. Every Ohio brokerage must also have a written brokerage policy on agency (ORC 4735.56) that states whether the brokerage even permits dual agency. A salesperson always acts under a managing/affiliated broker and may only be paid through that brokerage.

What is the Ohio Residential Property Disclosure Form?

Ohio requires a seller of most one-to-four-family residential property to give the buyer a Residential Property Disclosure Form before the buyer signs. The form is completed based on the seller's actual knowledge of the property's condition — items such as water, structure, mechanical systems, and known hazards. This is an Ohio disclosure concept. If the seller fails to deliver the form before the buyer signs, the buyer may rescind the contract in writing within three business days after delivery (or before the transfer of title). The form is the seller's disclosure of known facts; it does not replace the buyer's own duty of inspection.

What is 'dower' under Ohio law and why does it matter at closing?

Ohio is one of the few states that still recognizes dower (ORC 2103.02): a non-relinquishing spouse holds a life-estate interest in one-third of real property the other spouse owned during the marriage. Because of this, the non-owning spouse should also sign the deed to release dower — even if not on the title. This is an Ohio title concept the state exam tests directly. Dower can cloud title if the spouse's interest is not released, so closings routinely obtain both spouses' signatures. Ohio is not a community-property state; dower is a distinct, older marital-property right.

How much is the Ohio real property conveyance fee?

Ohio's mandatory state conveyance fee under ORC 319.54 is $1 per $1,000 of the sale price (one mill), collected by the county auditor. Counties may also add a permissive fee of up to $3 per $1,000 (three mills). The fee is customarily paid by the seller (grantor) at the time of transfer. This is an Ohio settlement-math concept. On a $200,000 sale, the mandatory state fee alone is $200 (200 × $1); a county adding the full permissive fee would charge up to $800 total. Compute it by dividing the price by 1,000 and multiplying by the per-thousand rate.

What is the Ohio Real Estate Recovery Fund?

The Ohio Real Estate Recovery Fund (ORC 4735.12) reimburses members of the public who win a court judgment for actual losses caused by a licensee's fraud or misconduct but cannot collect it. It pays only after a final judgment, and the aggregate cap is $40,000 against any one licensee. This is an Ohio regulatory concept. When the Fund pays a claim on a licensee's behalf, that licensee's license is automatically suspended until the fund is repaid in full plus interest. The Fund protects consumers, not licensees — it is a last resort after other remedies are exhausted.

Where must an Ohio broker deposit earnest money?

An Ohio broker must deposit earnest money and other funds held for others in a separate, non-interest-bearing special or trust account at an Ohio financial institution — never mixed with the broker's own money. Checks and deposit tickets must be labeled 'trust account' or 'special account.' This is an Ohio trust-fund concept. Commingling client funds with the broker's own is a license-law violation under ORC 4735.18. When a dispute over earnest money arises, the broker generally keeps the funds in the trust account until the parties agree in writing, a court orders release, or the broker interpleads the funds.

What classes does Ohio's fair housing law protect?

Ohio's fair housing law (ORC 4112.02) protects all seven federal Fair Housing Act classes — race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability — plus two additional Ohio classes: military status and ancestry. It is enforced by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC). This is an Ohio practice concept and a heavily tested topic. Steering, blockbusting, and redlining violate both ORC 4112.02 and Chapter 4735 license law. A licensee asked to steer buyers away from a neighborhood by protected class must refuse — complying would violate fair housing and license law.

What is the difference between joint tenancy and tenancy in common?

Both are forms of co-ownership. Joint tenancy carries the right of survivorship — a deceased owner's share passes automatically to the surviving owners — and requires the four unities of time, title, interest, and possession. Tenancy in common has no survivorship; each owner holds a divisible share that can be willed to heirs. This is a Forms of Ownership concept. Ohio creates survivorship through a survivorship deed/tenancy; a plain tenancy in common is the default when survivorship language is absent. Severalty is sole ownership by one person or entity.

Which deed gives a buyer the most protection?

A general warranty deed gives the most protection: the grantor warrants clear title against all defects, even those arising before the grantor owned the property, and promises to defend the title. A limited (special) warranty deed covers only the grantor's own ownership, and a quitclaim deed gives no warranties. This is a Transfer of Title concept. A deed must be delivered by the grantor and accepted by the grantee to transfer title; recording it then gives constructive notice to the public. In Ohio, deeds are recorded with the county recorder, and a married grantor's spouse usually signs to release dower.

How does the income (capitalization) approach estimate value?

The income approach converts a property's income into value using the formula value = net operating income ÷ capitalization rate. Net operating income is effective gross income minus operating expenses, before any mortgage payment. A higher cap rate signals more risk and produces a lower value. This is a Property Value and Appraisal concept. It is the primary approach for income-producing property such as apartments and commercial buildings. The other two approaches are the sales comparison approach (comparable sales) and the cost approach (land value plus replacement cost minus depreciation).

What fiduciary duties does an agent owe a client?

An agent owes the principal fiduciary duties, remembered as OLD CAR: Obedience to lawful instructions, Loyalty (the client's interests first), Disclosure of material facts, Confidentiality, Accounting for money and property, and Reasonable care and skill. These define the trust at the heart of an agency relationship. This is a Laws of Agency concept. Under Ohio law (ORC 4735.51 et seq.), confidentiality survives even after the agency relationship ends. Honesty, good faith, and disclosure of known material facts about the property's physical condition are owed to all parties, including customers.

Who must comply with the federal lead-based paint disclosure rule?

Sellers and landlords of most housing built before 1978 must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards, give buyers or renters the EPA/HUD pamphlet, and — for sales — allow a 10-day window to test for lead. The rule comes from the 1992 Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X). This is a Property Disclosures concept that applies in Ohio alongside the state Residential Property Disclosure Form. The 10-day inspection opportunity applies to sales; the parties may agree in writing to a different length. Other commonly disclosed environmental hazards include radon, asbestos, mold, and leaking underground storage tanks.

What does RESPA require at a real estate closing?

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) governs closings on most federally related mortgage loans. It requires lenders to disclose settlement costs, gives borrowers a Loan Estimate and a Closing Disclosure, and prohibits kickbacks and unearned referral fees among settlement-service providers. This is a Financing and Settlement concept. The Loan Estimate is due within three business days of application; the Closing Disclosure must reach the borrower at least three business days before closing. RESPA's anti-kickback rule is why an Ohio licensee cannot accept an undisclosed fee for steering a client to a particular title or escrow company.

What does the federal Fair Housing Act prohibit?

The Fair Housing Act (1968) bans discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability — the seven federal protected classes. Prohibited practices include steering, blockbusting, and redlining. This is a Real Estate Practice concept and one of the most heavily tested topics. Ohio's own fair housing law (ORC 4112.02) mirrors these classes and adds military status and ancestry. Housing providers must allow reasonable accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities, such as a service animal.

Ohio Real Estate Commission (OREC)

A five-member board appointed by the Governor under ORC 4735.03 — four brokers with 10+ years' experience and one public member — that adopts the canons of ethics and hears appeals of disciplinary actions.

The Ohio Revised Code chapter that governs real estate brokers and salespersons — the source of the Division's authority over licensing, agency, disclosure, trust funds, and discipline.

Affiliated (managing) broker

The licensed broker who holds a salesperson's license and under whom the salesperson must work; an Ohio salesperson cannot operate independently and is paid only through that brokerage.

Representing both the buyer and the seller in one transaction; in Ohio, legal only with the informed, written consent of both clients.

Right of rescission (disclosure form)

If an Ohio seller fails to deliver the Residential Property Disclosure Form before the buyer signs, the buyer may rescind in writing within 3 business days after delivery, or before transfer of title.

Trust (special) account

The separate, non-interest-bearing account in which an Ohio broker must deposit earnest money and other funds held for others, labeled 'trust account' or 'special account.'

FREE Ohio Real Estate Exam Study Guide 2026 + Interactive

This free Ohio real estate exam study guide covers both portions of the Ohio salesperson licensing exam — the Ohio state-specific law tested by the and the national/general principles tested across the country.^[1]Ohio’s state portion has some unusual rules — dower and the conveyance fee among them — so we teach it first.

The exam is administered by PSI as 120 questions — an 80-question national portion and a 40-question Ohio portion, each needing 70% to pass, in a single 180-minute session.^[4]It’s interactive, not a wall of text: every area has a built-in checkpoint quiz, hover-able glossary terms, worked math examples, and concept questions.

Read the guide area by area, test yourself at each checkpoint, then round out your free prep with our Ohio practice questions and flashcards. Two areas reward the most study time on the state side: ORC 4735 license law and Ohio agency and disclosure.

Ohio Real Estate Exam Snapshot

Ohio salesperson exam at a glance (2026)
Detail	Ohio salesperson exam
Regulator	Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Dept. of Commerce), led by the Superintendent
Testing provider	PSI Services
Questions	120 total — 80 national + 40 Ohio state-specific
Passing score	70% on each portion, scored separately (56/80 national, 28/40 state)
Time	180 minutes for the full exam
Pre-license education	120 hours — 40 Principles & Practices + 40 Ohio Law + 20 Appraisal + 20 Finance
Post-license & age	At least 18 and a high school grad; 20 hours of post-licensing education in year one
License term & CE	Renew every 3 years; 30 hours of CE incl. 3 hrs each Core Law, Civil Rights, Canons of Ethics

Confirm the current question counts, fees, and education rules with the Division and the PSI bulletin before you test — Ohio updates its requirements periodically.^[1]^[4] The weighting below reflects the Ohio state-portion emphasis; license law and agency and disclosure dominate it:

Ohio state-portion emphasis (2026 salesperson, ~40 state items)

License Law & the Division (ORC 4735)30% · ~12 items

Agency & Disclosure (ORC 4735.55–.62)20% · ~8 items

Brokerage Operations & Trust Funds13% · ~5 items

Fair Housing (ORC 4112)10% · ~4 items

Ohio Property Disclosure10% · ~4 items

Dower, Title & Conveyance Fee10% · ~4 items

Financing & Foreclosure (Ohio)7% · ~3 items

Treat the state-portion percentages as a planning guide — Ohio does not publish a fixed item count per topic, but license law, agency, and disclosure consistently carry the most weight.^[2] This guide teaches the Ohio state law first, then all eight national content areas, each ending in a checkpoint quiz.

The PSI Ohio salesperson exam — 120 questions in one session

National / General portion80 scored questionspart of the 180-minute session · 70% to pass (56/80)General real estate principles tested across the country.

Ohio State portion40 scored questionspart of the 180-minute session · 70% to pass (28/40)ORC 4735 license law, Ohio agency & disclosure, trust funds, fair housing.

The portions are scored separately — you must pass both the national and the Ohio portion to license.

1 · The Division, Licensing & Education (Ohio)

The heart of the Ohio portion.Who regulates real estate in Ohio, how you become and stay licensed, the education Ohio requires, and how a salesperson’s license is held.^[2]

Ohio’s real estate regulatory framework

Ohio real estate law flows from the statute (ORC 4735) down to the Division that enforces it, with the Commissionsetting ethics rules and hearing appeals. The exam’s state portion is built on this structure.

ORC Chapter 4735 (Ohio Revised Code)Ohio's real estate licensing statute, passed by the General Assembly — it governs licensing, agency, disclosure, trust funds, and discipline.
Ohio Department of CommerceThe cabinet-level department that houses the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing.
Division of Real Estate & Professional LicensingThe agency that licenses and regulates salespersons and brokers; led by the Superintendent of Real Estate, who is appointed by the Director of Commerce.
Ohio Real Estate Commission (OREC)Five members appointed by the Governor — four brokers (10+ years' experience) and one public member; adopts the canons of ethics and hears appeals of discipline.

The Superintendent runs day-to-day licensing and discipline; the Commission adopts rules and decides appeals.

The Division, Commission & ORC 4735

The , within the Ohio Department of Commerce, regulates licensees under . It is led by the , appointed by the Director of Commerce, who issues and disciplines licenses. The is a separate five-member board that adopts the and hears appeals of discipline — don’t confuse the rule-making Commission with the Superintendent who runs the Division day to day.

120-Hour Pre-License & Eligibility

To be licensed, a salesperson completes 120 hours of pre-license education across four courses, must be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate or equivalent, and must be sponsored by an Ohio brokerage.^[1] The four courses are fixed by statute:

Ohio’s 120-hour pre-license education — four required courses

Principles & Practices of Real Estate40 hoursCore real estate principles, transactions, and practice.

Ohio Real Estate Law40 hoursOhio license law (ORC 4735) — must include civil rights, housing discrimination, and desegregation.

Real Estate Appraisal20 hoursValuation principles and the approaches to value.

Real Estate Finance20 hoursMortgages, lending, and settlement.

40 + 40 + 20 + 20 = 120 hours at an Ohio-approved school before you sit the exam.

Post-Licensing & Continuing Education

A newly licensed salesperson must complete 20 hours of post-licensing education within 12 months of license issuance. After that, an active licensee completes 30 hours of continuing education every three years, including at least 3 hours each of Core Law, Civil Rights, and Canons of Ethics.^[2]Licenses renew every three years, tied to the licensee’s date of birth.

Becoming a Broker & Holding a License

A salesperson’s license is held by the affiliated broker, and the salesperson may only conduct licensed activity through that brokerage and be paid only by it — never directly by a buyer or seller. To become a , an applicant must generally have been actively licensed for at least 2 of the past 5 years with at least 20 completed transactions, plus additional broker education.

The path to an Ohio salesperson license

1 · 120-hour pre-license educationComplete four required courses: Principles & Practices (40), Ohio Real Estate Law (40), Real Estate Appraisal (20), and Real Estate Finance (20).
2 · Meet eligibilityBe at least 18, a high school graduate or equivalent, and sponsored by an Ohio brokerage.
3 · Pass the PSI examPass both the national (80 questions) and Ohio state (40 questions) portions — 70% on each.
4 · Background checkSubmit fingerprints for an Ohio BCI and FBI criminal-records check.
5 · Activate under a brokerThe license is issued and held by your affiliated broker — you may only work through that brokerage.

New licensees must also complete 20 hours of post-licensing education within the first year, and the license is held by the affiliated broker.

Checkpoint · Area 1 · The Division, Licensing & Education

Question 1 of 10

Which Ohio state agency licenses and regulates real estate salespersons and brokers under ORC Chapter 4735?

2 · Ohio Agency, Disclosure, Trust Funds & Fair Housing

The most distinctively Ohio material.How agency disclosure works, the seller’s property disclosure, where client money goes, and Ohio’s special rules — fair housing, dower, and the conveyance fee.^[3]

Agency Disclosure & Dual Agency

Before an agency relationship is established, a licensee must provide the (ORC 4735.57) — given before the party signs an offer to purchase or lease so everyone knows whom each agent represents. — representing both buyer and seller — is legal in Ohio only with the informed, written consent of both clients. Every brokerage must also adopt a written (ORC 4735.56) stating whether it even permits dual agency.

The Ohio disclosure stack

Ohio relies on disclosure: who you represent, what the seller knows, and the brokerage’s agency policy must all be in writing. These are the documents the exam tests most.

📄Agency Disclosure Statement (ORC 4735.57)Names whom each licensee represents; given before the party signs an offer to purchase or lease.

📄Residential Property Disclosure FormOhio's seller disclosure for most 1–4 family homes, based on the seller's actual knowledge; given before the buyer signs.

📄Federal lead-based paint disclosureRequired for housing built before 1978 — give the EPA/HUD pamphlet and a 10-day inspection window.

📄Brokerage policy on agency (ORC 4735.56)Every brokerage's written policy on representation and whether it permits dual agency, disclosed to clients.

If the seller never delivers the Residential Property Disclosure Form, the buyer may rescind in writing within 3 business days of delivery (or before closing).

Residential Property Disclosure

A seller of most one-to-four-family homes must give the buyer the , completed from the seller’s actual knowledgeof the property’s condition. If the seller fails to deliver it before the buyer signs, the buyer has a : rescind in writing within 3 business days after delivery, or before transfer of title.

Trust Accounts & the Recovery Fund

A broker must deposit and other funds held for others in a separate, non-interest-bearing , labeled “trust account” or “special account” — never mixed with the broker’s own money ( is a violation). Records are kept at least 3 years. The (ORC 4735.12) reimburses the public for an uncollectible judgment against a licensee, capped at $40,000 against any one licensee; when it pays, that license is suspended until the fund is repaid with interest.

Ohio Fair Housing, Dower & Conveyance Fee

Ohio’s fair housing law (ORC 4112.02), enforced by the , protects all seven federal classes plus . Ohio still recognizes (ORC 2103.02), so a married seller’s non-owning spouse usually signs the deed to release it. Ohio’s (ORC 319.54) is $1 per $1,000 of sale price, plus up to $3 per $1,000 a county may add, customarily paid by the seller.^[10]

Checkpoint · Area 2 · Ohio Agency, Disclosure, Trust Funds & Fair Housing

Question 1 of 10

Under Ohio law, before an agency relationship is established, a licensee must provide which document explaining who each licensee represents in the transaction?

3 · Property, Legal Descriptions & Land Use

National content area.What real property is, the estates and rights an owner can hold, the government’s powers over land, and how land is legally described.^[9]

Estates & the Bundle of Rights

is land, everything permanently attached to it (including ), and the . The largest estate is — absolute and inheritable. Use the MARIA tests (Method of attachment, Adaptability, Relationship, Intention, Agreement) to tell a fixture from personal property.

Government Powers & Encumbrances

Even fee simple is limited by four government powers, remembered as PETE: (zoning, codes), (with just compensation), taxation, and . An — a lien, , or deed restriction — limits title.

The four government powers — “PETE”

Every owner’s rights are subject to four powers of government. Note the key contrast: only eminent domain requires the government to pay the owner.

PPolice powerRegulate land for public health, safety & welfare — zoning, building codes. No payment to the owner.

EEminent domainTake property for public use through condemnation — but pay just compensation.

TTaxationLevy property taxes; unpaid taxes become a lien with high priority.

EEscheatProperty reverts to the state when an owner dies with no will and no heirs.

Legal Descriptions

Three methods describe land precisely: , the rectangular (government) survey system (townships, ranges, and ), and lot-and-block. Much of Ohio was surveyed under the government survey, so a is 640 acres and one is 43,560 square feet.

The rectangular survey system — a township of 36 sections

1 township
6 mi × 6 mi = 36 sections

1 section
1 sq mile = 640 acres

1 acre
43,560 square feet

Memorize for the exam: 43,560 sq ft/acre and 5,280 ft/mile — Ohio is a government-survey (Northwest Territory) state.

Checkpoint · Area 3 · Property, Legal Descriptions & Land Use

Question 1 of 10

An owner conveys property 'to the city so long as the land is used as a public park, and if it ceases to be so used, ownership reverts to the grantor.' What type of estate has the city received?

4 · Ownership, Title Transfer & Recording

National content area, with Ohio’s dower wrinkle. How people co-own property, how a deed transfers title, and how recording protects ownership.^[9]

Forms of Ownership in Ohio

The key difference is the right of survivorship. A passes a deceased owner’s share automatically to the survivors; a does not, so each share passes by will. Ohio is not a community-property state, but it does recognize — a non-owning spouse’s life-estate interest in one-third of property the other spouse owned during marriage.

Forms of ownership in Ohio
Form	Survivorship?	Who can hold it
Severalty	N/A — sole owner	One person or entity
Tenancy in common	No — passes by will	Any number of co-owners
Survivorship tenancy	Yes — to survivors	Co-owners named with survivorship
Subject to dower	Spouse holds a 1/3 life estate	A married owner — spouse signs to release

Deeds, Dower & Recording

A deed conveys title from grantor to grantee. The gives the most protection; a gives none.

Title passes on delivery and acceptance, not on recording — but recording at the county recorder gives constructive notice. In Ohio, a married grantor’s spouse usually signs the deed to release . protects against prior defects.

Checkpoint · Area 4 · Ownership, Title Transfer & Recording

Question 1 of 10

Four siblings own a farm as joint tenants. One sibling becomes financially troubled, and a creditor obtains and forces the sale of that sibling's interest at a judicial sale to satisfy a judgment. After the forced sale, how does the buyer at that sale hold title relative to the three remaining siblings?

5 · Property Value & Appraisal

National content area.What creates value, the three approaches an appraiser uses, and how a licensee’s CMA differs from a formal appraisal.^[9]

Value Principles

is the most probable price under fair conditions — an opinion, distinct from the actual market price. The basis of value is : the legal, possible, feasible, and most profitable use of a site. A helps price a listing; a formal is an impartial USPAP-compliant opinion by a licensed appraiser.

The Three Approaches to Value

An appraiser estimates value three ways, then reconciles them — weighing the indications, not averaging — into one final opinion.

The three approaches to estimating value

Sales comparison approachCompare the subject to recently sold similar properties; adjust for differences. Best for homes.Based on the principle of substitution.

Cost approachLand value + cost to rebuild the improvements new − depreciation. Best for new or special-use property.

Income (capitalization) approachValue = net operating income ÷ capitalization rate. Best for income-producing property.

The appraiser then reconciles the three indications into one final opinion of value — weighing them, not averaging.

Checkpoint · Area 5 · Property Value & Appraisal

Question 1 of 10

An appraiser evaluating a vacant corner lot zoned for either a small office or a gas station determines which permitted use would yield the greatest net return. The first step the appraiser applies in this highest and best use analysis is to confirm that the proposed use is which of the following?

6 · Contracts & Agency (National)

The single largest national area. What makes a contract valid, the kinds of listing agreements, and the fiduciary duties at the heart of agency.^[9]

Contract Law & Listings

A valid needs mutual agreement, consideration, legal purpose, and competent parties — and, for real estate, writing under the . A missing essential element makes it void; a defect like a minor’s signature makes it voidable.

Types of listing agreements
Listing type	Who earns the commission
Exclusive right-to-sell	The listing broker — no matter who finds the buyer
Exclusive agency	The broker, unless the owner sells it themselves
Open listing	Only the broker who actually finds the buyer
Net listing	Broker keeps the amount above the seller's set price — a conflict of interest

Agency & Fiduciary Duties

is a fiduciary relationship between agent and principal. The duties are OLD CAR: Obedience, Loyalty, Disclosure, Confidentiality, Accounting, and Reasonable care. Under Ohio law, confidentiality survives the end of the relationship.

Checkpoint · Area 6 · Contracts & Agency (National)

Question 1 of 10

Why is disclosed dual agency considered inherently limiting even when both parties consent?

7 · Real Estate Practice & Fair Housing

National content area. Fair housing, handling client money, and the leasing work a licensee does day to day.^[6]

Fair Housing

The (1968) bans discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability — seven federal protected classes.^[6] Ohio’s own law (ORC 4112.02) adds and is enforced by the . The classic violations are , blockbusting, and redlining.

Prohibited fair-housing practices
Practice	What it is
Steering	Guiding buyers toward or away from areas by protected class
Blockbusting	Inducing panic selling by claiming a protected class is moving in
Redlining	A lender refusing to lend or insure in an area by its makeup

Trust Funds, Leases & Conduct

A broker must keep client funds — like — in a separate ; is a violation. Commission rates are always negotiable, and fixing them with competitors is an antitrust violation. A lease conveys the right to use property for a term in exchange for rent (landlord = lessor, tenant = lessee); Ohio residential leases are governed by Ohio’s Landlords and Tenants Act (ORC Chapter 5321).

Checkpoint · Area 7 · Real Estate Practice & Fair Housing

Question 1 of 10

Which statement best explains why an established business relationship exception exists within the Do Not Call framework as applied to real estate practice?

8 · Disclosures & Environmental Issues

National content area. What a seller and agent must reveal, and the environmental hazards the exam expects you to recognize.^[8]

Material Facts & Property Disclosure

A — anything that would affect a buyer’s decision or price — must be disclosed, including known . In Ohio the seller uses the , completed from actual knowledge, and the licensee must disclose known material defects in the property’s physical condition to all parties.

Environmental Hazards

The most heavily tested federal rule is the : for housing built before 1978, the seller must disclose known lead paint, give the EPA/HUD pamphlet, and (for sales) allow a 10-day inspection window.^[8]

Environmental hazards to recognize
Hazard	What to know
Lead-based paint	Pre-1978 housing; federal disclosure + EPA/HUD pamphlet + 10-day test window
Radon	Odorless radioactive gas from soil; common in parts of Ohio; can accumulate indoors
Asbestos	Old insulation/flooring; remove or encapsulate to control fibers
Mold	Grows in damp areas; may require disclosure and remediation
Underground storage tank	Can leak and contaminate soil and groundwater

Checkpoint · Area 8 · Disclosures & Environmental Issues

Question 1 of 10

Which scenario best illustrates a patent defect rather than a latent defect?

9 · Financing & Settlement

National content area, with key Ohio differences. The instruments that secure a loan, how Ohio forecloses, the main loan types, and what happens at closing.^[7]

Mortgages, Notes & Foreclosure

Ohio is a state that uses a (not a deed of trust): the borrower keeps title and the lender holds a lien. On default, the lender uses — a court-supervised process ending in a sheriff’s sale. The promissory note is the borrower’s promise to repay.

How an Ohio sale closes — title, mortgage & conveyance fee

1 · Purchase contractBuyer and seller sign the purchase contract; earnest money is deposited in the broker's trust (special) account.
2 · Title & escrowA title company searches title, issues title insurance, and acts as escrow agent for the closing.
3 · Mortgage & dower releaseOhio is a mortgage (lien-theory) state. A married seller's non-owning spouse signs the deed to release dower.
4 · Recording & conveyance feeThe deed is recorded with the county recorder; the seller customarily pays the conveyance fee to the county auditor.

Ohio is a lien-theory (mortgage) state that uses judicial foreclosure, and it still recognizes dower — two heavily tested state differences.

Loan Types, Lending Laws & Closing

Three loan types anchor the exam — conventional, FHA, and VA — and the measures lender risk. Two federal laws govern disclosure: requires settlement-cost disclosures and bans kickbacks, and requires disclosing the cost of credit, including the APR.^[7] At closing, a neutral title/escrow agent disburses funds, and the deed is recorded.

Checkpoint · Area 9 · Financing & Settlement

Question 1 of 10

After a borrower receives the initial Closing Disclosure, the lender makes a change to the loan that increases the annual percentage rate beyond the allowed tolerance. Under federal settlement rules, what is the consequence of this kind of significant change?

10 · Real Estate Math

Tested on both portions. A handful of formulas cover almost every calculation: area, commission, seller net, loan-to-value, taxes and mills, the Ohio conveyance fee, and proration.^[4]

Area, Commission & Net

Area of a rectangle is length × width; convert square feet to acres by dividing by 43,560. Commission = sale price × rate. To find the price for a target seller net, divide the net by (1 − rate).

Core real estate formulas
To find	Formula
Commission	Sale price × commission rate
Price for a target net	Net ÷ (1 − commission rate)
Loan-to-value (LTV)	Loan amount ÷ value (or price)
Value (income approach)	Net operating income ÷ capitalization rate
Annual property tax	Assessed value × tax rate (or mills × 0.001)
Ohio conveyance fee	(Sale price ÷ 1,000) × per-thousand rate ( $1 state + up to$ 3 county)

Taxes, Conveyance Fee & Proration

Property tax = assessed value × rate (mills × 0.001). The divides the sale price by 1,000 and multiplies by the per-thousand rate. splits taxes, rent, and interest by the days each party owns the property — the seller is usually charged through the closing date.

Checkpoint · Area 10 · Real Estate Math

Question 1 of 10

A property has an assessed value of $320,000 and the jurisdiction levies a tax rate of 18 mills. What is the annual property tax owed?

How to Use This Study Guide

A study guide is a map, not the whole territory — pair it with our free Ohio practice questions and flashcards. Because Ohio’s state portion carries unusual rules (dower, the conveyance fee, the Agency Disclosure Statement), lead with license law and Ohio agency and disclosure, then layer in the national content areas and lock in the math.

A study loop that actually works

1
Read a content area here
Work through one area at a time, Ohio law first, then the national portions.
2
Take the checkpoint
The quick check at the end of each area exposes what didn't stick.
3
Drill the gaps
Send your weak area straight into the free Ohio practice questions and flashcards.
4
Take full, timed practice
Sit a full-length practice test to build stamina, then review every miss.

Ohio Real Estate Concept Questions

Common Ohio and national real estate principles the salesperson exam actually tests — covering ORC 4735 license law, the Agency Disclosure Statement, the Residential Property Disclosure Form, dower, the conveyance fee, fair housing, and the national content areas. Tap any card for a short, exam-ready answer backed by an official source (Ohio Division of Real Estate, the Ohio Revised Code, OCRC, HUD, CFPB, EPA, or IRS), then test yourself on them as flashcards.

Ohio Real Estate Glossary

Quick definitions for the terms you’ll see most across the Ohio real estate exam:

Acre: A unit of land area equal to 43,560 square feet.
Affiliated (managing) broker: The licensed broker who holds a salesperson's license and under whom the salesperson must work; an Ohio salesperson cannot operate independently and is paid only through that brokerage.
Agency: A fiduciary relationship in which an agent represents a principal in dealings with third parties.
Agency Disclosure Statement: The Ohio form (ORC 4735.57) on which a licensee discloses whom each agent represents; it is provided before the party signs an offer to purchase or lease.
Appraisal: An impartial, supported opinion of value prepared by a licensed appraiser as of a specific date, following USPAP.
Brokerage policy on agency: The written policy every Ohio brokerage must adopt (ORC 4735.56) stating how it handles representation and whether it permits dual agency; it is disclosed to clients.
Bundle of rights: The rights that come with ownership: possession, use (enjoyment), exclusion, disposition (transfer), and control.
Canons of ethics: The rules of conduct for Ohio licensees adopted by the Ohio Real Estate Commission; CE includes a required Canons of Ethics topic each renewal cycle.
Capitalization rate: The rate of return on an income property: net operating income ÷ value. A higher cap rate implies more risk and lower value.
Commingling: Improperly mixing a client's trust funds with the broker's own or business funds — a license-law violation under ORC 4735.18.
Comparative market analysis (CMA): A licensee's estimate of value from recent comparable sales, used to help price a listing — not a formal appraisal.
Contingency: A condition that must be met for a contract to become binding, such as financing, inspection, or appraisal contingencies.
Contract: A legally enforceable agreement between competent parties to do or refrain from doing a lawful act.
Conveyance fee: Ohio's transfer tax (ORC 319.54): a mandatory state fee of $1 per$ 1,000 of sale price, plus a permissive county fee of up to $3 per$ 1,000; customarily paid by the seller to the county auditor.
Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing: The Ohio agency, within the Department of Commerce, that licenses and regulates real estate salespersons and brokers under ORC Chapter 4735. It is led by the Superintendent of Real Estate.
Dower: An Ohio marital right (ORC 2103.02): a non-relinquishing spouse holds a life-estate interest in one-third of real property the other spouse owned during the marriage.
Dual agency: Representing both the buyer and the seller in one transaction; in Ohio, legal only with the informed, written consent of both clients.
Earnest money: A buyer's good-faith deposit showing serious intent; held in the broker's trust account and usually applied to the price at closing.
Easement: A nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as a driveway or utility line.
Eminent domain: Government's power to take private property for public use through condemnation, paying the owner just compensation.
Encumbrance: Any claim, lien, charge, or right that limits an owner's title — liens, easements, encroachments, and deed restrictions.
Escheat: The reversion of property to the state when an owner dies with no will and no legal heirs.
Fair Housing Act: The 1968 federal law prohibiting housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability.
Fee simple: The most complete form of ownership — absolute, of unlimited duration, and freely transferable by deed or will. Also called fee simple absolute.
Fiduciary duties: The duties an agent owes the principal — Obedience, Loyalty, Disclosure, Confidentiality, Accounting, and Reasonable care (OLD CAR).
Fixture: An item of personal property attached to real property so as to become part of it and transfer with the land. The MARIA tests decide whether an item is a fixture.
General warranty deed: The deed giving the most protection; the grantor warrants clear title against all defects, even those arising before the grantor's ownership.
Highest and best use: The legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible, and most profitable use of a site — the basis of value.
Judicial foreclosure: Ohio's court-supervised foreclosure process used to enforce a defaulted mortgage and sell the property at a sheriff's sale.
Latent defect: A hidden physical defect not discoverable by ordinary inspection; a known latent defect must be disclosed.
Lead-based paint disclosure: The federal requirement that sellers and landlords of pre-1978 housing disclose known lead paint and give a 10-day inspection window for sales.
Lien theory: Ohio's mortgage system: the borrower keeps title and the lender holds a lien; foreclosure is judicial, through the courts.
Listing agreement: A contract employing a broker to find a buyer for the owner's property in exchange for compensation.
Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The loan amount divided by the property's value or price; a higher LTV means a smaller down payment and more lender risk.
Market value: The most probable price a property should bring in a competitive, open market under fair-sale conditions; an opinion of value.
Material fact: A fact that would affect a reasonable buyer's decision to buy or the price they would pay; a known material defect must be disclosed.
Metes and bounds: A legal description using distances (metes) and compass directions (bounds) traced back to a point of beginning.
Military status and ancestry: Two protected classes Ohio's fair housing law (ORC 4112.02) adds on top of the seven federal Fair Housing Act classes.
Mortgage: Ohio's standard security instrument: a borrower (mortgagor) pledges real property to a lender (mortgagee) as security for a loan, while keeping title.
Net operating income (NOI): Effective gross income minus operating expenses, before any mortgage payment; the income figure used in the income approach.
Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC): The Ohio agency that enforces the state's fair housing and anti-discrimination laws under ORC Chapter 4112.
Ohio Real Estate Commission (OREC): A five-member board appointed by the Governor under ORC 4735.03 — four brokers with 10+ years' experience and one public member — that adopts the canons of ethics and hears appeals of disciplinary actions.
Ohio Real Estate Recovery Fund: An Ohio fund (ORC 4735.12) that reimburses the public for an uncollectible court judgment against a licensee for fraud or misconduct, capped at $40,000 against any one licensee.
ORC Chapter 4735: The Ohio Revised Code chapter that governs real estate brokers and salespersons — the source of the Division's authority over licensing, agency, disclosure, trust funds, and discipline.
Police power: Government's authority to regulate land for public health, safety, and welfare — the basis for zoning and building codes, with no payment to the owner.
Proration: Dividing prepaid or accrued expenses such as taxes, rent, and interest fairly between buyer and seller as of the closing date.
Quitclaim deed: A deed conveying only whatever interest the grantor has, with no warranties; often used to clear a cloud on title.
Real property: Land plus everything permanently attached to it (improvements and fixtures) and the bundle of legal rights of ownership.
Residential Property Disclosure Form: The Ohio form a seller of most 1–4 family residential property gives the buyer, completed from the seller's actual knowledge of the property's condition.
RESPA: The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act — a federal law requiring loan-cost disclosures and prohibiting kickbacks at closing.
Right of rescission (disclosure form): If an Ohio seller fails to deliver the Residential Property Disclosure Form before the buyer signs, the buyer may rescind in writing within 3 business days after delivery, or before transfer of title.
Section (survey): One square mile of land — 640 acres — and one thirty-sixth of a 6-mile-square township in the rectangular survey system.
Statute of frauds: The law requiring contracts for the sale of real estate (and most leases over a year) to be in writing to be enforceable.
Steering: Illegally guiding buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected class — a fair-housing violation.
Superintendent of Real Estate: The chief officer of the Division, appointed by the Director of Commerce, who issues and disciplines licenses, audits brokerages, and administers the licensing program.
Survivorship tenancy: Ohio co-ownership with the right of survivorship; a deceased owner's share passes automatically to the surviving owners.
Tenancy in common: Co-ownership in which each owner holds an undivided, willable share; there is no right of survivorship.
TILA: The Truth in Lending Act — a federal law requiring lenders to disclose the cost of credit, including the annual percentage rate (APR).
Title insurance: A policy protecting the insured against loss from title defects that existed before the policy date, such as liens or recording errors.
Trust (special) account: The separate, non-interest-bearing account in which an Ohio broker must deposit earnest money and other funds held for others, labeled 'trust account' or 'special account.'

Free Ohio Real Estate Exam Study Materials & Resources

Everything you need to prepare for the Ohio real estate exam is free here — no paywall, no sign-up. This guide is the foundation; pair it with the rest of our free Ohio study materials for active recall, timed practice, and last-minute review:

Ohio Real Estate Practice Test — exam-style questions across the Ohio and national content areas, with explanations.
Ohio Real Estate Flashcards — active-recall decks for ORC 4735 law, Ohio disclosure forms, fiduciary duties, and math formulas.

Ohio Real Estate Exam Study Guide FAQ

The Ohio salesperson exam has 120 multiple-choice questions: an 80-question national/general portion and a 40-question Ohio state-specific portion, taken together in one session. It is administered by PSI, and you have 180 minutes to complete both portions.

References

1.Ohio Department of Commerce. “Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.” com.ohio.gov. ↑
2.Ohio Revised Code. “ORC Chapter 4735 — Real Estate Brokers.” codes.ohio.gov. ↑
3.Ohio Revised Code. “ORC 4735.57 — Agency Disclosure Statement.” codes.ohio.gov. ↑
4.PSI Services. “Ohio Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin.” PSI. ↑
5.Ohio Revised Code. “ORC 2103.02 — Dower.” codes.ohio.gov. ↑
6.U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Fair Housing Act Overview.” HUD. ↑
7.Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X).” CFPB. ↑
8.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Real Estate Disclosure (Lead-Based Paint).” EPA. ↑
9.U.S. Geological Survey. “How is the Public Land Survey System organized?.” USGS. ↑
10.Ohio Revised Code. “ORC 319.54 — County auditor fees (conveyance fee).” codes.ohio.gov. ↑

Sources for the concept answers

Every answer in the Ohio real estate concept questions above is drawn from an authoritative primary source:

Ohio Civil Rights Commission. “Fair Housing in Ohio (ORC Chapter 4112).” crc.ohio.gov.
Internal Revenue Service. “Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets (Publication 544).” IRS.

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