New Hampshire Real Estate Practice Exam
(Free Questions & Answers)
The New Hampshire real estate exam is administered by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission and requires an attorney to conduct real estate closings — one of several New England states with this requirement. The state portion tests New Hampshire's specific buyer and seller agency disclosure timing and content requirements. Environmental disclosure is also emphasized: New Hampshire's groundwater and private well disclosure requirements, septic system disclosure, and radon testing disclosure are all commonly tested topics.
Administered by: New Hampshire Real Estate Commission · 140 questions · Passing score: 70%
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Updated May 2026 · New Hampshire Real Estate Commission exam outline
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Free New Hampshire Real Estate Practice Exam Questions
Test your knowledge with these New Hampshire real estate practice questions. Each question is based on topics from the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission exam and includes detailed explanations.
Q1. Which state agency regulates real estate licenses in New Hampshire?
Explanation
The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating real estate salespersons and brokers in New Hampshire.
Q2. In New Hampshire, which form is required to disclose agency relationships to buyers and sellers?
Explanation
New Hampshire requires licensees to provide the Disclosure of Agency Relationship form to consumers at first meaningful contact to explain the agency options available.
Q3. New Hampshire uses a 'Purchase and Sale Agreement' as the primary real estate contract. For it to be valid, consideration must be:
Explanation
Consideration is anything of value (money, services, a promise to act or refrain from acting) exchanged between parties. In a real estate purchase, the consideration is the purchase price and the seller's obligation to convey title.
Q4. New Hampshire does not have a general state sales tax or state income tax. How does this affect real estate transactions?
Explanation
Despite lacking a broad-based income or sales tax, New Hampshire does impose a real estate transfer tax (RETT), which is collected at closing and typically split between buyer and seller.
Q5. In New Hampshire, the dominant estate in an easement appurtenant is:
Explanation
In an easement appurtenant, the dominant estate is the property that benefits from the easement (e.g., the right to cross a neighbor's land). The servient estate bears the burden of the easement.
Q6. When a real estate agent prepares a comparative market analysis (CMA), the agent is providing:
Explanation
A CMA is a market value estimate prepared by a real estate agent using recent comparable sales. It is not a certified appraisal and cannot be used for mortgage lending purposes.
Q7. A real estate agent who only shows homes in certain neighborhoods to buyers based on their national origin is guilty of:
Explanation
Steering is the illegal practice of directing buyers toward or away from specific neighborhoods based on protected characteristics such as national origin, race, or religion.
Q8. In New Hampshire, a quitclaim deed:
Explanation
A quitclaim deed conveys whatever interest the grantor has in the property without any warranties. It is often used between family members or to clear title clouds, since it offers no guarantee of clear title.
Q9. New Hampshire's real estate transfer tax is $0.75 per $100 of purchase price, paid by each party. For a $350,000 sale, what does each party (buyer and seller) pay?
Explanation
Each party pays: ($350,000 ÷ 100) × $0.75 = 3,500 × $0.75 = $2,625 total. Each party pays half: $2,625 ÷ 2 = $1,312.50.
Q10. The New Hampshire Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act regulates development within how many feet of public water bodies?
Explanation
The NH Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act (RSA 483-B) regulates development and land use activities within 400 feet of the reference line of public water bodies, protecting water quality and habitat.
Q11. A nonconforming use in New Hampshire is best defined as:
Explanation
A nonconforming use is a land use that was lawfully established before the current zoning ordinance was enacted but no longer conforms to the new zoning requirements. It may continue but generally cannot be expanded.
Q12. A New Hampshire property manager who collects rents and negotiates leases on behalf of another must hold a:
Explanation
Under RSA 331-A, collecting rents and negotiating leases on behalf of others for compensation constitutes real estate brokerage activity in NH, requiring a broker's or salesperson's license.
Q13. How many hours of pre-license education are required to sit for the New Hampshire real estate salesperson exam?
Explanation
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of pre-license education before a candidate may sit for the salesperson licensing exam — one of the lower state requirements.
Q14. A New Hampshire listing agent represents the seller. When a buyer without a buyer's agent contacts the listing agent, the listing agent may:
Explanation
A listing agent may act as a facilitator to assist an unrepresented buyer, but must clearly disclose this role and that their primary duty remains to the seller unless dual agency is agreed upon.
Q15. In New Hampshire, an offer to purchase becomes a binding contract when:
Explanation
A binding contract requires both offer and acceptance. In New Hampshire, the contract is formed when the seller signs (or signs a counteroffer that is then accepted) and notice of acceptance is communicated to the offeror.
Q16. A mortgage with a 30-year term and fixed rate compared to a 15-year fixed rate will have:
Explanation
A 30-year mortgage has lower monthly payments because the principal is spread over more payments, but the borrower pays significantly more total interest compared to a 15-year loan.
Q17. A riparian rights state like New Hampshire means that landowners:
Explanation
New Hampshire follows riparian rights doctrine, which gives landowners adjacent to water bodies the right to make reasonable use of the water, as long as they don't unreasonably interfere with others' riparian rights.
Q18. Which principle of value states that the value of a lesser property is pulled up by surrounding superior properties?
Explanation
The principle of progression holds that a lower-valued property surrounded by higher-valued properties will have its value pulled upward. The opposite — a superior property surrounded by inferior ones — is regression.
Q19. Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is allowed?
Explanation
Senior housing communities that meet the requirements of HOPA (at least 80% of units occupied by at least one person 55+, with published age-verification policies) are exempt from the familial status protection of the Fair Housing Act.
Q20. The chain of title refers to:
Explanation
The chain of title is the historical sequence of recorded transfers of ownership for a property. A clear, unbroken chain demonstrates that the current owner has good title.
Q21. A buyer wants to make an offer that gives the seller a net of $265,000 after paying a 5% commission. What should the offer price be?
Explanation
Let P = offer price. P × (1 − 0.05) = $265,000 → P × 0.95 = $265,000 → P = $265,000 ÷ 0.95 ≈ $278,947.
Q22. Which federal law requires disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards when selling a home built before 1978?
Explanation
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X) requires sellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards in housing built before 1978 and provide buyers/tenants with an EPA pamphlet.
Q23. In New Hampshire, zoning ordinances are adopted and enforced by:
Explanation
Zoning in New Hampshire is a local function. Municipalities adopt zoning ordinances under the authority granted by RSA Chapter 674, the New Hampshire Planning and Land Use Regulation statutes.
Q24. Under the New Hampshire Landlord-Tenant Act (RSA 540), the maximum security deposit a landlord may collect is:
Explanation
RSA 540-A:6 limits security deposits to one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. This protects tenants from excessive upfront costs.
Q25. The New Hampshire real estate salesperson licensing exam consists of how many questions?
Explanation
The New Hampshire real estate licensing exam consists of 110 questions — a national portion and a state-specific portion.
1,500+ questions · Timed mock exams · Detailed explanations
New Hampshire Real Estate Exam — What to Expect
What Is On The New Hampshire Real Estate Exam?
The New Hampshire real estate salesperson exam is administered by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission and tests both national real estate principles and New Hampshire-specific laws and regulations. The exam contains 140 multiple-choice questions, and you must score at least 70% 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 New Hampshire — including regulations set by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission, New Hampshire agency disclosure requirements, and state-specific contract and closing practices.
Topics covered on the New Hampshire exam include: Property Ownership, Agency Law, Contracts, Finance, New Hampshire License Law. Candidates who struggle on the NH exam typically underestimate the state-specific portion — the national content is well-covered by most study materials, but New Hampshire law questions require targeted preparation.
Official New Hampshire Exam Content Areas
Source: New Hampshire Real Estate Commission · Updated June 2026
| Content Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| National Section (11 PSI topic areas) | 80 scored |
| New Hampshire State Section (RSA 331-A, REC structure and powers, licensing requirements, licensee conduct, agency disclosure) | 40 scored |
- ▸Administered by PSI; must score 70% on each section — 56/80 national, 28/40 state; sections scored independently and may be retaken separately
- ▸New Hampshire's real estate licensing law is RSA 331-A (Real Estate Practice Act) — the NH Real Estate Commission (NHREC) under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) administers and enforces it
- ▸New Hampshire state section covers NHREC structure and powers, RSA 331-A licensing requirements, regulation of licensee conduct, written agency disclosure obligations, trust account rules, and fair housing
- ▸New Hampshire requires PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) disclosure for residential properties served by private wells in PFAS-affected areas — a state-specific topic not covered in most national study materials
- ▸New Hampshire imposes a Realty Transfer Tax (RSA 78-B) of $0.75 per $100 of consideration — paid equally by buyer and seller at closing; this is unique among New England states where the tax is typically a seller-only cost, and is frequently tested on the NH state exam
- ▸Source: NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification / NH Real Estate Commission (oplc.nh.gov/real-estate), RSA 331-A, RSA 78-B, and PSI Candidate Examination Handbook (oplc.nh.gov)
Practice New Hampshire questions by topic — start with New Hampshire License Law, Agency, and Contracts to build your foundation, then work through remaining topics.
How Many Questions Are On The New Hampshire Exam?
The New Hampshire real estate salesperson exam has 140 multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into a national section covering general real estate principles and a state section covering New Hampshire-specific laws administered by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission. You have 3.5 hours to complete the exam.
New Hampshire Real Estate Exam Passing Score
You need a 70% to pass the New Hampshire real estate exam. The first-time pass rate in New Hampshire is approximately 63%, which means preparation is essential — most candidates who fail do so because they focused on national content and underestimated the NH-specific portion. Our New Hampshire practice exam is built specifically around the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission exam outline.
Read our complete New Hampshire exam study guide — state-specific topics, 5-week study plan, and what to focus on before exam day.
Most Difficult Topics On The New Hampshire Exam
These are the areas where New Hampshire candidates most commonly lose points — and a key reason why some states produce harder real estate exams than others.
New Hampshire Real Estate Commission's specific licensing requirements, supervision rules, and continuing education mandates are tested on the state portion with NH-specific provisions.
New Hampshire requires a licensed attorney to handle real estate closings. Questions on the attorney's role, title examination process, and how this differs from escrow-state closings appear on the state exam.
New Hampshire's private well and groundwater quality disclosure requirements — including radon in water and arsenic levels — are state-specific topics that appear on the NH state exam.
New Hampshire's septic system disclosure requirements, including what must be disclosed and when, are critical exam topics in a state where many properties rely on septic rather than municipal sewer.
New Hampshire Real Estate Math
The New Hampshire 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 NH 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 New Hampshire Real Estate License
- 1Complete 40 hours of state-approved pre-license education covering topics required by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.
- 2Submit your application to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission and pay the required fees (exam fee: $95).
- 3Pass the New Hampshire real estate salesperson exam (140 questions, 70% to pass).
- 4Complete a background check and fingerprinting as required by New Hampshire law.
- 5Find a licensed sponsoring/employing broker to activate your license.
- 6Complete any required post-licensing education within the timeframe set by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.
Best Study Strategy For The New Hampshire Exam
Start with New Hampshire license law first. State-specific regulations administered by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission make up a significant portion of the NH exam and are not covered in most national study materials.
Master the math early. The New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire exam has 140 questions within a 3.5 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 NH exam. Understand the difference between seller's agent, buyer's agent, dual agent, and transaction broker in the context of New Hampshire law.
Review Fair Housing thoroughly. Federal Fair Housing Act protections apply in all states, but New Hampshire may have additional protected classes. Know both federal and New Hampshire-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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