Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Connecticut Real Estate Salesperson - State Portion

Connecticut  ·  PSI Services Real Estate

Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
115
35 state + 80 national
Passing score
70
each portion
Exam time
165 min
≈ 2.75 hr, one sitting
Administered by
PSI Services Real Estate
Format
Closed-book

Connecticut State Portion 35 questions

Connecticut Real Estate Licensing Requirements 7 Q · 20%
Real Estate Commission purpose, powers and dutiesActivities requiring a licenseExemptions from licensureLicense types and qualificationsLicense renewal, continuing education, and transferReal Estate Guaranty FundLicense suspension and revocationRegistrations (teams, associate broker)
Connecticut Laws Governing the Activities of Licensees 11 Q · 31%
Broker/salesperson relationshipDuties to partiesHandling of deposits and other moniesMisrepresentationDisclosure of material and nonmaterial factsAdvertisingCommissions and compensationUnlicensed personal assistants
Connecticut Real Estate Agency 9 Q · 26%
Representing a client vs. working with an unrepresented personAgency agreementsAgency disclosureDual agencyDesignated agencyConfidential informationInterference with agency relationship
Connecticut-Specific Real Estate Laws 8 Q · 23%
Adverse possession / prescriptive easement time periodsLand records and recordingReal property taxes and assessmentsConveyance taxResidential property condition disclosureConnecticut Landlord-Tenant ActConnecticut Common Interest Ownership ActConnecticut fair housing lawProperty-specific disclosures (lead paint, crumbling foundations, carbon monoxide)InterpretersConnecticut Uniform Electronic Transactions Act

National Portion 80 questions

Property Ownership 8 Q · 10%
Real vs personal propertyLand characteristics and legal descriptions (metes & bounds, lot & block, government survey)Measuring structures and land measurementEncumbrances: liens, easements, encroachments, subsurface/air/water rightsTypes of ownership: severalty, tenants in common, joint tenancy, common-interest, trusts, business entities, life estate
Land Use Controls 4 Q · 5%
Government rights in land: taxes, special assessments, eminent domain, escheatGovernment controls on land use: zoning, building codes, environmental regulationsPrivate controls: deed conditions, CC&Rs, HOA/condo bylaws
Valuation and Market Analysis 6 Q · 8%
Appraisals: when required, licensed/certified appraiser requirements, appraisal processEstimating value: economic principles affecting valueSales comparison approachCost approachIncome analysis approach (GRM, cap rate)Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), Broker Price Opinion (BPO), Automated Valuation Models (AVM)
Financing 8 Q · 10%
Loan terminology: points, LTV, PMI, PITI, underwriting criteriaMortgage clauses, promissory notes, deeds of trustLoan types: conventional, amortized, ARM, FHA, VA, USDA, owner financing, reverse mortgage, HELOC, construction, bridgeLending legislation: RESPA, Truth in Lending (Reg Z), TRID, Equal Credit Opportunity ActSecondary mortgage market: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae
Contracts 15 Q · 19%
General contract law: valid elements, Statute of Frauds, offer and acceptanceContract enforceability: void, voidable, unenforceable contractsBilateral vs unilateral contracts, option contractsElectronic signatures and digital transactionsRights, obligations, and breach remediesPurchase agreements: addenda, amendments, contingenciesLease contracts: types of leases, lease-purchase agreementsMultiple offers and counteroffers
Agency 10 Q · 13%
Agency vs non-agency relationshipsListing contracts: exclusive right-to-sell, exclusive agency, open listing, net listingBuyer brokerage and buyer representation agreementsTransaction brokers and facilitatorsPower of attorney, termination of agencyFiduciary duties: obedience, loyalty, disclosure, confidentiality, accounting, reasonable care (OLD CAR)Duties to customers and non-clientsAgency disclosure requirements and conflict of interest
Property Disclosures 6 Q · 7%
Property condition disclosures: seller disclosure requirements, inspections, surveysRed flags and material defectsEnvironmental disclosures: lead-based paint, asbestos, radon, mold, underground storage tanksGovernment disclosures: flood zones, wetlands, endangered speciesMaterial facts and duty to disclose
Property Management 2 Q · 3%
Tenant procurement and qualificationFair housing compliance in property management and ADAMarket analysis for establishing rentsLandlord/tenant rights and obligations
Transfer of Title 5 Q · 6%
Types of deeds: general warranty, special warranty, quitclaim, bargain and saleTitle insurance: owners vs lenders policies, title searches, title problemsClosing process: recordation, settlement statements, warrantiesSpecial processes: foreclosure, short sale, deed in lieu, probate
Practice of Real Estate 10 Q · 12%
Federal Fair Housing Act: protected classes, prohibited conduct, exemptionsAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirementsAntitrust laws: price fixing, group boycotts, market allocation, tie-in agreementsDo-Not-Call Registry and telemarketing rulesSocial media and internet advertising regulationsHandling earnest money and trust fundsDue diligence and fiduciary responsibilitiesIndependent contractor vs employee status
Real Estate Calculations 6 Q · 7%
Seller net proceeds calculationsBuyer funds required at closingProrations: taxes, insurance, rent, HOA duesTransfer tax and recording fee calculationsPITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance) calculationsCommission calculations and splitsEquity, capitalization rate, and LTV calculationsDiscount points and origination feesArea and volume conversions (sq ft, acres)

Key Distinctions

Joint TenancyvsTenancy in Common

Joint tenancy includes the right of survivorship so a deceased owner's interest passes to surviving owners, while tenancy in common has no survivorship right and each owner's interest passes to their heirs.

Easement AppurtenantvsEasement in Gross

An easement appurtenant benefits a specific parcel of land (dominant estate) and runs with the land, while an easement in gross benefits a specific person or entity (such as a utility company) with no dominant estate.

General Warranty DeedvsSpecial Warranty Deed

A general warranty deed warrants against all title defects in the entire chain of title regardless of when they occurred, while a special warranty deed only warrants against defects that arose during the grantor's period of ownership.

Owner's Title Insurance PolicyvsLender's Title Insurance Policy

An owner's policy protects the buyer's equity interest up to the purchase price, while a lender's policy protects the lender's security interest only up to the outstanding loan amount.

CMA (Comparative Market Analysis)vsFormal Appraisal

A CMA is an opinion-of-value tool prepared by a real estate agent, while a formal appraisal must be performed by a licensed or certified appraiser following USPAP standards and can be used for lending purposes.

Promissory NotevsDeed of Trust

A promissory note is the borrower's written promise to repay the debt (evidence of the debt), while a deed of trust is the security instrument that gives the lender a lien on the property as collateral.

Bilateral ContractvsUnilateral Contract

A bilateral contract requires mutual promises from both parties (promise for a promise), while a unilateral contract involves a promise from one party that can only be accepted through performance by the other party.

ClientvsCustomer

A client has a fiduciary agency relationship with the broker and is owed full fiduciary duties, while a customer has no agency relationship and is owed only honest and fair dealing.

Exclusive Agency ListingvsExclusive Right-to-Sell Listing

An exclusive agency listing allows the seller to sell the property themselves without paying a commission, while an exclusive right-to-sell listing requires the broker be paid a commission regardless of who sells the property.

AddendumvsAmendment

An addendum adds terms to a contract before it is fully executed (signed by all parties), while an amendment modifies an existing contract after all parties have signed it.

Fixed-Rate MortgagevsAdjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)

A fixed-rate mortgage maintains a constant interest rate for the entire loan term, while an ARM has an interest rate that can fluctuate during the loan term based on market conditions.

Price FixingvsMarket Allocation

Price fixing is a competitor agreement to charge the same commission rate, while market allocation is a competitor agreement to divide geographic areas or customer segments—both are antitrust violations.

Key Terms

Connecticut Real Estate Guaranty Fund – Maximum Per-Claim Recovery CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-324a
Per CGS Sec. 20-324a, the maximum amount any aggrieved person may recover from the Connecticut Real Estate Guaranty Fund is $25,000 per transaction or claim, regardless of the number of persons aggrieved.
Connecticut Salesperson Pre-License Education Requirement CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-314(d)(3)
Per CGS Sec. 20-314(d)(3), an applicant for a Connecticut real estate salesperson's license must successfully complete at least 60 classroom hours in real estate principles and practices before sitting for the licensing exam.
Connecticut Continuing Education Requirement CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-319(b)(1)
Per CGS Sec. 20-319(b)(1), Connecticut real estate licensees must complete not less than 12 hours of continuing education in current real estate practices and licensing laws for each two-year license renewal period.
Connecticut Unlicensed Practice Fine CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-312(d)
Per CGS Sec. 20-312(d), the Connecticut Real Estate Commission may impose a fine of up to $5,000 per violation on any person who engages in the real estate business without the required license.
Connecticut Transfer of Affiliation Fee CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-319a(a)
Per CGS Sec. 20-319a(a), a licensed Connecticut salesperson or associate broker who changes affiliation from one broker to another must pay a $25 registration fee to the department.
Connecticut Broker Experience Requirement CGS Ch. 392, Sec. 20-314(d)(1)(A)
Per CGS Sec. 20-314(d)(1)(A), an applicant for a Connecticut broker's license must have been actively engaged as a licensed salesperson for a minimum of three years (and at least 1,500 hours) under a supervising licensee.
Connecticut Broker Escrow/Trust Account Requirement Ct Re Statutes, CGS Sec. 20-324k(a)
Per CGS Sec. 20-324k(a), each licensed Connecticut broker who holds funds on behalf of principals or clients must maintain a separate escrow or trust account, distinct from the broker's own account, in a Connecticut bank.
Connecticut Broker Liability for Independent Contractor Salesperson Ct Re Statutes, CGS Sec. 20-312a
Per CGS Sec. 20-312a, a Connecticut supervising broker is liable to third parties for the actions of an affiliated salesperson classified as an independent contractor to the same extent as if the salesperson were an employee.
Special Assessment
A special assessment is a one-time charge levied against specific properties that benefit from a particular public improvement (such as new sidewalks, street paving, or sewer systems), distinct from ongoing general property taxes.
Remainderman
In a life estate arrangement, the remainderman is the party (other than the original grantor) who receives title to the property when the life tenant dies.
Police Power
Police power is the government's authority to enact regulations for public health, safety, or welfare (such as zoning and environmental rules) without compensating property owners, unlike eminent domain.
Reverse Mortgage
A reverse mortgage is a loan product available to homeowners age 62 and older that allows them to convert home equity into cash without monthly payments, with the loan repaid when the home is sold or the borrower vacates.
Net Listing
A net listing is an agreement in which the broker keeps all proceeds above the seller's specified net price as commission; it is illegal or prohibited in most states due to the inherent conflict of interest it creates.

Formulas to Know

Seller's Net ProceedsNet Proceeds = Sale Price − (Commission + Closing Costs + Mortgage Payoff)
Commission AmountCommission = Sale Price × Commission Rate
Commission Split (Salesperson's Share)Salesperson's Commission = Total Commission × Salesperson's Split Percentage
Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)LTV = Loan Amount ÷ Appraised Value (or Sale Price)
EquityEquity = Property Value − Outstanding Loan Balance
Capitalization RateCap Rate = Net Operating Income (NOI) ÷ Property Value
Proration (Daily Rate Method)Daily Rate = Annual Amount ÷ 365; Prorated Amount = Daily Rate × Number of Days
Discount Points CostPoints Cost = Loan Amount × (Number of Points ÷ 100)
PITI Monthly PaymentPITI = Monthly Principal & Interest + Monthly Property Tax (Annual Tax ÷ 12) + Monthly Insurance Premium (Annual Premium ÷ 12)
Area ConversionAcres = Square Feet ÷ 43,560