Maine Real Estate Practice Exam
(Free Questions & Answers)
The Maine real estate exam is administered by the Maine Real Estate Education Board and tests Maine-specific shoreland zoning restrictions, which limit development near lakes, rivers, and coastal areas under Maine's Shoreland Zoning Act. Maine also requires specific disclosure of subsurface wastewater disposal systems (septic) — a critical issue in rural Maine where municipal sewer access is uncommon. The state portion focuses on Maine agency disclosure requirements and the mandatory use of certain Maine-specific disclosure forms.
Administered by: Maine Real Estate Commission · 120 questions · Passing score: 75%
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Updated May 2026 · Maine Real Estate Commission exam outline
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Free Maine Real Estate Practice Exam Questions
Test your knowledge with these Maine real estate practice questions. Each question is based on topics from the Maine Real Estate Commission exam and includes detailed explanations.
Q1. Which state agency regulates real estate licenses in Maine?
Explanation
The Maine Real Estate Commission, under the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating real estate professionals in Maine.
Q2. In Maine, a 'buyer's agent' owes fiduciary duties exclusively to:
Explanation
A buyer's agent in Maine owes full fiduciary duties — including loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, obedience, and reasonable care — exclusively to the buyer.
Q3. Under Maine law, which of the following is required for a real estate purchase agreement to be enforceable?
Explanation
Maine's Statute of Frauds requires that contracts for the sale of real property be in writing and signed by both parties to be enforceable in court.
Q4. What is the primary difference between a fixed-rate and an adjustable-rate mortgage?
Explanation
A fixed-rate mortgage has a constant interest rate for the life of the loan, while an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that can change periodically based on market indexes.
Q5. In Maine, which form of co-ownership requires all four unities — time, title, interest, and possession — to be created simultaneously?
Explanation
Joint tenancy requires all four unities: time (acquired at the same time), title (by the same instrument), interest (equal shares), and possession (equal right to the whole property).
Q6. In real estate appraisal, a 'comparable sale' (comp) used in the sales comparison approach should be:
Explanation
A comparable sale should be a similar property that sold recently (usually within 6–12 months) in the same market area, adjusted for differences with the subject property.
Q7. In Maine, in addition to the seven federal protected classes, state fair housing law adds which protected class?
Explanation
Maine's Human Rights Act adds several protected classes beyond the federal seven, including sexual orientation and gender identity, providing broader fair housing protections.
Q8. In Maine, where are real estate deeds recorded to provide constructive notice?
Explanation
In Maine, deeds and other real property documents are recorded at the county registry of deeds, providing constructive notice of ownership and encumbrances to the public.
Q9. A Maine property is listed at $425,000 and sells for 96% of the list price. What is the final sales price?
Explanation
Sales price = $425,000 × 0.96 = $408,000. To solve this, multiply the relevant values: $425,000 at 96%.. The correct answer is $408,000.. This is a common calculation on the Maine real estate exam.
Q10. In Maine, which environmental hazard is commonly associated with older residential properties built before 1978?
Explanation
Properties built before 1978 may contain both lead-based paint (banned in residential use in 1978) and asbestos in floor tiles, insulation, and other materials. Both are common environmental concerns in Maine's older housing stock.
Q11. In Maine, which government body typically adopts zoning ordinances?
Explanation
Zoning ordinances in Maine are adopted by local municipal governments (city councils, town meetings, or selectboards) pursuant to the authority granted by the Maine Municipal Home Rule Amendment and state enabling legislation.
Q12. In Maine, a property manager who collects rent on behalf of a building owner must hold those funds:
Explanation
Maine law requires property managers to hold client funds (rent, security deposits) in a separate trust or escrow account, keeping them segregated from the manager's own funds.
Q13. How many hours of pre-license education are required to sit for the Maine real estate salesperson exam?
Explanation
Maine requires 55 hours of pre-license education before a candidate may sit for the salesperson licensing exam.
Q14. Under Maine agency law, a 'facilitator' (transaction broker) may:
Explanation
A facilitator (transaction broker) in Maine assists both parties with the transaction without representing either as a fiduciary, providing ministerial acts only.
Q15. In Maine, when a buyer includes an inspection contingency in a purchase agreement, the buyer has the right to:
Explanation
An inspection contingency allows the buyer to withdraw from the contract if the inspection reveals conditions the buyer deems unsatisfactory, protecting the buyer's earnest money.
Q16. Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a lender may NOT deny a loan based on:
Explanation
ECOA prohibits lenders from discriminating in credit decisions based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or receipt of public assistance.
Q17. A property owner who grants an easement for a utility company to run power lines across their land has created an:
Explanation
An easement in gross benefits a specific individual or entity (such as a utility company), not an adjacent parcel of land. There is no dominant tenement — only a servient one.
Q18. The principle of 'regression' in real estate valuation states that:
Explanation
The principle of regression states that a higher-value property located among lower-value properties will tend to have its value pulled down toward the lower values.
Q19. A real estate agent who tells a minority buyer that no homes are available in a neighborhood where homes are actually for sale is engaging in:
Explanation
Telling a buyer that no homes are available in a neighborhood where homes are actually for sale based on the buyer's protected class characteristics is a form of steering — an illegal fair housing violation.
Q20. A 'cloud on title' is best described as:
Explanation
A cloud on title is any outstanding claim, lien, or encumbrance that may call into question the validity of the owner's title, such as an unresolved judgment or disputed boundary.
Q21. A seller owes $145,000 on their mortgage. The home sells for $265,000, and closing costs are $6,000 (including a 5% commission). What are the seller's net proceeds?
Explanation
Commission = $265,000 × 0.05 = $13,250. Total closing costs = $6,000 (which includes the $13,250 commission per the problem; interpreting $6,000 as additional costs beyond commission: Total deductions = $13,250 + $6,000 + $145,000 = $164,250. Net = $265,000 − $164,250 = $100,750).
Q22. Maine has some of the highest radon levels in the country. What is the EPA's recommended action level for radon in a home?
Explanation
The EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon levels when concentrations reach or exceed 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air.
Q23. A Maine landowner wants to use their property in a way that does not conform to the current zoning ordinance. They may apply for a:
Explanation
A variance allows a property owner to deviate from the strict requirements of the zoning ordinance due to unique hardship. A special exception permits a use that the ordinance allows under specific conditions, approved by the board of appeals.
Q24. Under Maine law, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit within how many days after the tenancy ends?
Explanation
Maine law (14 MRSA Section 6033) requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit, along with an itemized statement of any deductions, within 21 days after the tenancy ends.
Q25. The Maine real estate licensing exam consists of how many questions?
Explanation
The Maine real estate licensing exam consists of 106 questions — a national portion and a state-specific portion.
1,500+ questions · Timed mock exams · Detailed explanations
Maine Real Estate Exam — What to Expect
What Is On The Maine Real Estate Exam?
The Maine real estate salesperson exam is administered by the Maine Real Estate Commission and tests both national real estate principles and Maine-specific laws and regulations. The exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions, and you must score at least 75% to pass.
The national portion covers topics that apply in every state: property ownership, land use controls, valuation and market analysis, financing, agency law, contracts, leasing and property management, transfer of title, fair housing laws, and real estate calculations. The state portion tests knowledge specific to Maine — including regulations set by the Maine Real Estate Commission, Maine agency disclosure requirements, and state-specific contract and closing practices.
Topics covered on the Maine exam include: Property Ownership, Agency Law, Contracts, Finance, Maine License Law. Candidates who struggle on the ME exam typically underestimate the state-specific portion — the national content is well-covered by most study materials, but Maine law questions require targeted preparation.
Official Maine Exam Content Areas
Source: Maine Real Estate Commission · Updated June 2026
| Content Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| National Section (Pearson VUE common outline) | 80 scored |
| Maine State Section (ME Real Estate Commission, licensing, brokerage law, agency disclosures) | 40 scored |
- ▸Administered by Pearson VUE; passing score is a scaled 75 (on a 0–100 scale) on each section — not a raw percentage
- ▸Maine state section covers ME Real Estate Commission powers, licensing requirements, regulation of brokerage conduct, and agency disclosure requirements
- ▸Source: Pearson VUE Maine Candidate Handbook (December 2025, pub. #092000) and Maine OPLC (maine.gov/pfr)
Practice Maine questions by topic — start with Maine License Law, Agency, and Contracts to build your foundation, then work through remaining topics.
How Many Questions Are On The Maine Exam?
The Maine real estate salesperson exam has 120 multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into a national section covering general real estate principles and a state section covering Maine-specific laws administered by the Maine Real Estate Commission. You have 4 hours to complete the exam.
Maine Real Estate Exam Passing Score
You need a 75% to pass the Maine real estate exam. The first-time pass rate in Maine is approximately 63%, which means preparation is essential — most candidates who fail do so because they focused on national content and underestimated the ME-specific portion. Our Maine practice exam is built specifically around the Maine Real Estate Commission exam outline.
Read our complete Maine exam study guide — state-specific topics, 5-week study plan, and what to focus on before exam day.
Most Difficult Topics On The Maine Exam
These are the areas where Maine candidates most commonly lose points — and a key reason why some states produce harder real estate exams than others.
Maine's Real Estate Education Board requirements, including the 55-hour pre-license course and continuing education mandates, are tested. Maine's specific license categories and renewal requirements are a common state exam topic.
Maine's Shoreland Zoning Act restricts development near lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. Understanding which activities are permitted in shoreland zones and how this affects property use and disclosure is a Maine-specific exam topic.
Maine requires specific disclosure of subsurface wastewater disposal systems (septic). In rural Maine where municipal sewer is unavailable, septic system condition and capacity is a critical disclosure issue tested on the state exam.
Maine's specific agency disclosure requirements — the timing, content, and form of the required disclosure — differ from what most national study materials cover and are tested on the state portion.
Maine Real Estate Math
The Maine real estate exam includes math questions covering commission calculations, loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, property tax prorations, area and volume, and appreciation/depreciation. A common example: if a property sells for $350,000 and the total commission is 6%, split equally between listing and buyer's broker, each side earns $10,500. Proration questions — such as calculating how many days of property taxes a seller owes at closing — are also common. On the ME exam, you will not need a calculator for most math questions, but you do need to understand the formulas. Practice the "T-bar" method for commission splits and the 360-day banker's year for prorations.
🧮 See all exam math formulas →How To Get Your Maine Real Estate License
- 1Complete 55 hours of state-approved pre-license education covering topics required by the Maine Real Estate Commission.
- 2Submit your application to the Maine Real Estate Commission and pay the required fees (exam fee: $100).
- 3Pass the Maine real estate salesperson exam (120 questions, 75% to pass).
- 4Complete a background check and fingerprinting as required by Maine law.
- 5Find a licensed sponsoring/employing broker to activate your license.
- 6Complete any required post-licensing education within the timeframe set by the Maine Real Estate Commission.
Best Study Strategy For The Maine Exam
Start with Maine license law first. State-specific regulations administered by the Maine Real Estate Commission make up a significant portion of the ME exam and are not covered in most national study materials.
Master the math early. The Maine real estate exam includes questions on commission calculations, prorations, loan-to-value ratios, and area calculations. Set aside dedicated math practice sessions — don't leave it until the last week.
Take timed practice exams. The Maine exam has 120 questions within a 4 hours time limit. Simulate exam conditions to build stamina and identify weak topics before exam day.
Focus heavily on agency law. Agency relationships, disclosure requirements, and fiduciary duties are consistently among the most-tested topics on the ME exam. Understand the difference between seller's agent, buyer's agent, dual agent, and transaction broker in the context of Maine law.
Review Fair Housing thoroughly. Federal Fair Housing Act protections apply in all states, but Maine may have additional protected classes. Know both federal and Maine-specific protections cold — this topic appears on virtually every exam.
Use active recall, not passive reading. Instead of re-reading notes, quiz yourself. Use flashcards or practice questions to test retention. Research shows active recall improves long-term retention significantly compared to passive review.
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