Team names & personal ads: follow state rules; broker name still required
Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
A real-estate advertisement that hides the fact that the advertiser is a licensee is:
Answer: A. Most license laws prohibit 'blind ads' — advertising must disclose that a licensee/brokerage is behind it and must not be misleading.
Question 2 of 5
All real-estate advertising must:
Answer: A. Ads must disclose the brokerage and avoid false/misleading claims; blind ads are prohibited.
Question 3 of 5
An advertisement that states a property's monthly payment amount but omits the down payment, term, and annual percentage rate is most likely a violation of which federal advertising rule?
Answer: A. Under TILA/Reg Z, stating a specific credit term such as the monthly payment amount triggers the requirement to also disclose the down payment, terms of repayment, and APR.
Question 4 of 5
When a licensee advertises a property for sale, the advertisement is generally required to disclose that the seller's representative is a:
Answer: B. License law requires that advertising clearly indicate the property is being offered by a licensed agent or broker so the public is not misled into thinking it is a for-sale-by-owner.
Question 5 of 5
An ad that uses words or images suggesting a property is available only to people of a particular race, religion, or national origin most directly violates the:
Answer: B. The Fair Housing Act prohibits advertising that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on protected classes such as race, religion, or national origin.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Must-know rules
- Every ad must identify the BROKERAGE — no 'blind ads'
- Team names & personal ads: follow state rules; broker name still required
- Trigger terms (down payment, APR details) require full TILA disclosure
- Social media counts as advertising — same rules apply
- Bait-and-switch (advertising unavailable listings) = misrepresentation
Advertising Rules That Get Licenses: FAQs
Is Advertising Rules That Get Licenses on the real estate exam?
Yes. Brokerage & Practice is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
