West Virginia Agency
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Agency law is one of the most tested subjects on the West Virginia real estate exam, and it's also one of the most misunderstood. The West Virginia Real Estate Commission expects licensees to understand the legal duties owed to clients vs. customers, and the specific timing of required disclosures under West Virginia law. Study these questions carefully — candidates who rely on national agency frameworks and don't account for WV-specific rules are among the most common failures on the state portion.

Practice Questions

West Virginia Agency — Practice Questions & Answers

115 questions on Agency from the West Virginia real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 115.

Q1. Under West Virginia law, a real estate licensee's agency relationship with a client is primarily established by:

A.Oral agreement
B.A written agency agreement
C.Performing services for the client
D.Showing a property to the client

Explanation

Agency in West Virginia real estate is best established through a written agency agreement (listing agreement or buyer agency agreement) that clearly defines the relationship, duties, and compensation.

Q2. A West Virginia buyer's agent discovers a major foundation crack during a property showing. The agent is required to:

A.Keep this information confidential unless the buyer asks
B.Disclose this known material defect to the buyer
C.Report it to the West Virginia Real Estate Commission
D.Contact the seller's lender

Explanation

A buyer's agent has a duty to disclose all known material facts and defects to their buyer client. Failure to disclose a known material defect would be a breach of fiduciary duty.

Q3. In West Virginia, subagency refers to:

A.An agent who works under a principal broker
B.A cooperating broker who represents the seller through the listing broker
C.An agent who represents both buyer and seller
D.A transaction facilitator

Explanation

Subagency occurs when a cooperating (buyer's) broker works as a subagent of the listing broker, meaning both agents represent the seller. Subagency is now rare, as most buyers use buyer's agents.

Q4. Which of the following describes a transaction broker in West Virginia?

A.An agent who exclusively represents the buyer
B.An agent who exclusively represents the seller
C.A licensee who assists both parties without representing either as a fiduciary
D.A broker who manages the escrow account

Explanation

A transaction broker (or facilitator) assists both buyer and seller in completing a transaction without representing either party as a fiduciary. The broker remains neutral and owes limited duties to both parties.

Q5. Under a dual agency arrangement in West Virginia, the agent may NOT:

A.Disclose property defects to the buyer
B.Disclose the seller's minimum acceptable price to the buyer
C.Present all offers to the seller
D.Assist with completing the transaction paperwork

Explanation

In a dual agency, the agent cannot disclose confidential information from one party to the other, such as the seller's minimum acceptable price or the buyer's maximum willingness to pay.

Q6. A West Virginia listing agent may disclose which of the following to a buyer without breaching their fiduciary duty to the seller?

A.The seller's motivation for selling
B.How long the seller will wait for an offer
C.The seller's financial distress
D.Known material defects in the property

Explanation

A listing agent must disclose known material defects to buyers as required by law, even while representing the seller. Disclosing the seller's motivation, financial distress, or timeline would breach fiduciary duty.

Q7. A West Virginia licensee represents a seller under a listing agreement. The listing agent's primary fiduciary duties include all of the following EXCEPT:

A.Loyalty to the seller
B.Disclosure of the seller's confidential information to buyers
C.Obedience to lawful instructions
D.Reasonable care and diligence

Explanation

A listing agent owes fiduciary duties of loyalty, obedience, disclosure (to the seller), confidentiality, accounting, and reasonable care to the seller. Disclosing the seller's confidential information to buyers would breach the duty of confidentiality.

Q8. In West Virginia, an agent who represents a buyer in a transaction but is paid by the seller through the MLS cooperative compensation arrangement is:

A.Acting illegally because the seller is paying them
B.A buyer's agent — compensation source does not determine agency
C.Automatically a subagent of the listing broker
D.Required to reduce their services to the buyer

Explanation

Compensation source does not determine agency. A buyer's agent can be paid through cooperative compensation from the seller's proceeds while still owing full fiduciary duties to the buyer.

Q9. Under West Virginia law, a designated agency arrangement means:

A.The broker personally handles both buyer and seller
B.The broker designates one licensee to represent the buyer and a different licensee to represent the seller
C.Two separate brokerage firms collaborate
D.The state designates which agency to use

Explanation

In designated agency, the broker designates one agent from the firm to represent the buyer and a different agent to represent the seller, allowing each client to receive full representation even within the same brokerage.

Q10. The agency relationship between a broker and client is automatically terminated upon:

A.The listing expiring or the transaction closing
B.The agent going on vacation
C.A new listing being taken
D.The broker hiring a new salesperson

Explanation

Agency relationships terminate upon expiration of the agreement, completion of the purpose (closing of the transaction), mutual agreement, death or incapacity of either party, or revocation.

Q11. A West Virginia buyer tells their agent confidentially that they can pay up to $250,000 for a house listed at $225,000. The agent is representing both buyer and seller (dual agency). The agent should:

A.Tell the seller the buyer can pay $250,000
B.Keep this information confidential from the seller
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