Maryland Real Estate Exam Study Guide
Pass the Maryland Real Estate Salesperson exam on your first attempt. 75 original practice questions with detailed answer explanations, complete coverage of all two-section PSI content areas, and every real estate math formula you’ll see on test day — built for candidates who don’t have time to waste.
Beat the 63–68% First-Attempt Pass Rate
If you’ve been searching for a Maryland real estate exam study guide, here’s the reality: the MD Salesperson exam first-attempt pass rate is around 63–68%, and Maryland uses split scoring requiring 70% on EACH section (56/80 national + 21/30 state). Most candidates fail because their study materials don’t cover Maryland’s UNIQUE Disclosure OR Disclaimer option under BOP 10-702 (sellers may either disclose property defects OR disclaim), the ‘Understanding Whom Agents Represent’ form at first scheduled face-to-face meeting, the Intra-Company Agent designated-agency terminology, MD’s dual transfer tax (state 0.5% + county 0.5%–1.5%) plus county Recordation Tax, the First-Time Homebuyer reduction (state portion 0.25%), or Maryland’s status as a title theory state with attorney-supervised closings (especially Baltimore region). This guide distills BOP Title 17 and COMAR 09.11 into quick-reference tables and includes 75 original practice questions.
Maryland Real Estate Exam Facts at a Glance
Exam Format
110 multiple choice
Time Limit
2 hours (90 min nat + 30 min state)
Passing Score
70% on each section (56/80 + 21/30)
Exam Fee
$44
Your Step-by-Step Path to Passing
The exact 7-step study sequence our guide walks you through
Complete Your 60-Hour Pre-License Course
Maryland requires 60 hours of pre-license education from an MREC-approved school. This guide is a focused exam-prep companion — it doesn’t replace the course.
- MREC-approved providers include Long & Foster Institute, Real Estate Express, Aceable Agent, GCAAR
- Submit application + $170 license fee on passing
- Background check required
- Sponsorship by an MD-licensed broker required for activation
Master Universal Real Estate Principles
Drill the universal content areas first — they form the foundation for the Maryland-specific material.
📘 Our guide’s Part 1 covers deeds, titles, the bundle of rights, contracts essentials, financing fundamentals, valuation approaches, fair housing protected classes, federal income tax rules, and more — in quick-reference table format so you can scan fast and recall on test day.
Master Maryland-Specific Material (30 Questions)
MD-specific testing focuses on the ‘Understanding Whom Agents Represent’ disclosure timing, the unique Disclosure OR Disclaimer option, Intra-Company Agent (designated agency), the dual transfer tax (state + county) plus Recordation Tax math, the First-Time Homebuyer reduction, and MD’s title theory + non-judicial foreclosure structure.
Understanding Whom Agents Represent: First scheduled face-to-face meeting (COMAR 09.11.02.04)
Disclosure OR Disclaimer (UNIQUE): Seller may either disclose defects OR disclaim — caveat emptor option
Intra-Company Agent: MD’s term for designated agency
Dual transfer tax: State 0.5% (split) + county 0.5%–1.5%
First-Time Homebuyer reduction: State portion to 0.25%
Title theory + non-judicial foreclosure: ~90–120 days
Drill Real Estate Math (10 Questions)
Math is only 10% of the exam — but it’s the area that trips up the most candidates. Every formula has a pattern; once you see the pattern, the questions become easy points.
- Commission & percentage — Part = Whole × Rate (T-bar method)
- LTV calculations — Loan ÷ Value
- Tax prorations — 365-day method, day of closing belongs to buyer
- Property tax — Assessed value × tax rate (with state caps if applicable)
- Transfer tax — Maryland-specific rate calculations
- Capitalization — Value = NOI ÷ Cap Rate
- Acreage — 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft; 1 section = 640 acres
Take Practice Exams Under Test Conditions
Sit for the full 75-question practice set in one sitting. 2-hour timer. No notes. No phone. The point isn’t to score perfectly — it’s to identify weak content areas before exam day.
🎯 Pro tip: Review every answer — even the ones you got right. Sometimes you get the right answer for the wrong reason, and the explanation reinforces the concept for similar variations on the actual exam.
Schedule Your PSI Exam
Schedule via PSI at one of MD’s testing centers — or take online via secure remote proctoring.
Exam fee: $44 per attempt
Format: 110 questions: 80 national (90 min) + 30 MD-specific (30 min)
Pass score: 70% on EACH section (56/80 + 21/30)
Materials: Closed book; basic calculator allowed
Pass with 70% / 70% → Activate Under a Sponsoring MD Broker
Your MD salesperson license is active only when sponsored by an MD-licensed broker. License period is 2 years. CE: 15 hours per cycle including required Federal/State Legislation, Ethics, MREC Required Module, and Fair Housing topics.
What’s Next After Passing
- • Choose a sponsoring MD broker
- • Activate license through MREC
- • Plan 15-hour CE curriculum (with required topic mix)
- • Join local MLS & Maryland REALTORS®
Build Your Business Fast
- • Google Business Profile + Maps SEO
- • Use AI for listings & client comms
- • Build referral network
- • Earn from your first closing
⚠️ Why Generic Practice Quizzes Fall Short:
Most free online practice tests recycle the same generic national questions and skip the Florida-specific material that makes up almost half the exam. Worse, many give you the answer with no explanation — so even when you get it right, you don’t understand why. Our 75 questions are organized by topic, written specifically for the Florida exam, and every answer includes a detailed explanation tied to the underlying statute or concept.
Everything You Need to Pass on Your First Attempt
28–32 pages · 75 practice questions · all two-section content areas · instant download
Maryland Real Estate Salesperson Exam Study Guide
2026 Edition · PDF Download · Written by Mark Sias
- All two-section PSI content areas covered with weight breakdown
- 75 original practice questions grouped by topic for targeted review
- Detailed answer explanations for every question — not just the ones you missed
- Complete real estate math walkthroughs (commission, LTV, prorations, doc stamps, cap rate, acreage)
- Quick-reference tables for Maryland Business Occupations and Professions Article (BOP) Title 17 and COMAR 09.11
- Maryland-specific content: agency disclosure rules, license law, mandatory disclosures, transfer tax, state caps
- Memory aids and acronyms (DEEP-U, MARIA, COLIC, OLD CAR SKID, T-bar method)
- National portion fundamentals: deeds, contracts, financing, fair housing, valuation
- Recommended study approach with realistic 2–4 week timeline
Maryland Exam Study Guide
Why This Guide Beats Free Practice Quizzes
Free quiz sites are everywhere. A focused, Maryland-specific blueprint isn’t.
PSI Aligned
Organized exactly the way the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) under the MD Department of Labor breaks down the two-section content areas, so you study what’s actually tested at the right weighting.
Maryland Law Built In
Maryland Business Occupations and Professions Article (BOP) Title 17 and COMAR 09.11 distilled into quick-reference tables — not buried in a 600-page textbook.
Math Made Simple
Every formula you’ll see on test day, with worked examples. The T-bar method makes percentage problems trivial.
75 Practice Questions
Original questions modeled on the exam format. Grouped by topic so you can target weak areas after your first run-through.
Detailed Explanations
Every answer is explained — not just labeled right or wrong. Memory aids and acronyms reinforce the concepts.
Phone & Print Ready
Optimized for reading on phones, tablets, and desktops. Print-friendly for highlighting and margin notes.
two-section Content Areas, Weighted by Exam Importance
Knowing which topics are worth the most points lets you spend study time where it matters
High-Weight (Study First)
MD Disclosure OR DISCLAIMER (BOP 10-702 — UNIQUE to MD); ‘Understanding Whom Agents Represent’ at first face-to-face; Intra-Company Agent terminology; TITLE THEORY state; dual transfer tax (state 0.5% + county 0.5%–1.5%); MD Recordation Tax; First-Time Homebuyer reduction (0.25% state); MD Lead Risk Reduction Law; Ground Rent (MD-historic); attorney-supervised closing.
Medium-Weight
MD Fair Housing Law (broader than federal); Homestead Tax Credit; HOA/condo 5-day rescission; non-resident seller withholding (8% individual / 8.25% entity); license renewal & CE.
Lower-Weight (Don’t Skip)
Specialty topics — leases, commercial nuances, smoke alarm law.
What Maryland Licensing Actually Costs
Realistic Maryland Salesperson Licensing Budget
💰 The $44 retake math: Failing the MD exam and retaking costs $44. The average new MD agent’s first commission check is $5,000+. Spending $14.97 to pass on the first attempt is the obvious move.
Bonus: every concept in this guide reappears in real life. The contracts, disclosures, math, and brokerage relationship rules you study to pass the exam are the same rules that govern every transaction you’ll work for the rest of your career.
Who Wrote This Guide
Mark Sias — Founder, Noble Notary & Legal Document Preparers
Mark is a Florida-commissioned notary, legal document preparer, and digital marketing author based in Port Orange, FL. He co-owns Noble Notary & Legal Document Preparers with his wife Grace, where they prepare real estate documents (deeds, POAs, lease agreements, dissolution packages) for clients across multiple Florida counties.
Mark authored “A Homeless Guy’s Guide to Digital Marketing” and runs Notary Prosperity Academy, where he’s trained thousands of notaries, signing agents, and legal entrepreneurs through his YouTube channel (5,000+ subscribers, 500,000+ views) and online courses.
This study guide draws on years of working alongside real estate agents, title companies, and attorneys — distilling Maryland’s exam material into the quick-reference format that mirrors how working professionals actually use the law every day.
After You Pass — Build a Real Income
Passing the exam is one milestone. Turning a license into actual closings is a separate challenge — and it’s the challenge most new agents underestimate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the Maryland real estate exam?
The MD Salesperson exam first-attempt pass rate is around 63–68%. The exam is 110 questions (80 national + 30 MD-specific) in 2 hours, with split scoring requiring 70% on EACH section. Most candidates fail because their study materials don’t cover Maryland’s Disclosure OR Disclaimer option, Intra-Company Agent terminology, dual transfer tax + Recordation Tax math, or the title-theory + non-judicial foreclosure structure.
How much does the Maryland real estate exam cost?
The PSI exam fee is $44 per attempt. The MREC license fee on passing is $170. Add background check (~$45) and the required 60-hour pre-license course ($300–$600) for total upfront licensing costs of $560–$860.
How long should I study for the Maryland real estate exam?
Most candidates need 2–3 weeks of focused study after the 60-hour pre-license course. Plan for 1–2 hours per day. This guide compresses that timeline by focusing on what’s actually tested — agency disclosure, Disclosure/Disclaimer, MD transfer tax math, and title theory.
Does this guide replace the 60-hour pre-license course?
No. MD law requires every Salesperson candidate to complete 60 hours of pre-license education from an MREC-approved school before sitting for the exam. This study guide is a focused exam-prep companion.
What does the Maryland real estate exam cover?
110 questions: 80 national + 30 MD-specific. National content covers deeds, contracts, financing, valuation, and federal fair housing. MD content covers BOP Title 17 (license law), COMAR 09.11 (commission rules), ‘Understanding Whom Agents Represent’, Intra-Company Agent, MD Disclosure OR Disclaimer (BOP 10-702), MD Lead Risk Reduction Law, MD State Transfer Tax + Recordation Tax + County Transfer Tax, title theory + non-judicial foreclosure, and MD Fair Housing Law.
What is the default agency relationship in Maryland?
Maryland requires the ‘Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent’ disclosure at the first scheduled face-to-face meeting (COMAR 09.11.02.04). MD recognizes Seller’s Agent, Buyer’s Agent, Dual Agent (with consent), Subagent (rare), and Intra-Company Agent (designated agency). Dual agency requires informed written consent of both parties.
How is the Maryland transfer tax calculated?
Maryland has a TWO-PART transfer tax: state 0.5% (customarily split between buyer and seller) + county 0.5%–1.5% (e.g., Baltimore City 1.5%, Howard 1.0%, Anne Arundel 1.0%). PLUS Recordation Tax (county-specific, typically $5–$10 per $500). For qualified first-time homebuyers, the state portion is reduced to 0.25%. On a $400,000 sale: state transfer tax = $2,000.
What format is the guide?
Digital PDF download — 26 pages with quick-reference tables, real estate math walkthroughs (including state transfer tax, county transfer tax for Baltimore City and others, First-Time Homebuyer reduction, non-resident seller withholding), 75 original practice questions, and detailed answer explanations. Print-friendly. Instant download via Kajabi.
© 2026 Noble Notary & Legal Document Preparers. All rights reserved.
This study guide provides educational information to help candidates prepare for the Maryland Real Estate Salesperson licensing examination. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for the required 60-hour pre-license education or for the official content outline published by the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) under the MD Department of Labor. All practice questions are original content based on public statutes (Maryland Business Occupations and Professions Article (BOP) Title 17) and public administrative rules (COMAR 09.11). No actual PSI exam content is reproduced. Maryland statutes, administrative rules, fees, and exam content may change — always verify current information at labor.maryland.gov/license/mrec. Mark Sias is a Florida notary and legal document preparer, not a licensed attorney or real estate instructor. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MREC, the MD Department of Labor, PSI, or the National Association of REALTORS.