Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
What is the primary purpose of Pennsylvania's Consumer Notice?
Answer: B. The Consumer Notice is an informational disclosure that explains the different agency relationships (such as seller agent, buyer agent, dual agent, and transaction licensee) available to a consumer. It is not a contract and creates no agency relationship by itself.
Question 2 of 5
When must the seller's property disclosure statement be delivered to a buyer in a Pennsylvania residential transaction?
Answer: B. The seller's disclosure statement must be delivered to the buyer before the buyer signs an agreement of sale, so the buyer can consider the disclosed conditions before becoming contractually bound.
Question 3 of 5
In Pennsylvania residential transactions, how does the customary handling of contract review by an attorney typically work?
Answer: B. Unlike some states with a mandatory statutory attorney-review window, Pennsylvania relies on standardized association/broker forms; consulting an attorney is a right of the parties and any review or contingency period is set by the contract's negotiated terms, not a universal statutory requirement.
Question 4 of 5
Which Pennsylvania statute governs the licensing and conduct of real estate salespersons and brokers?
Answer: B. The Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) is the Pennsylvania law that governs real estate licensure, conduct, and the powers of the State Real Estate Commission. RESPA is a federal law, and the UCC governs commercial transactions generally.
Question 5 of 5
A Pennsylvania salesperson deposits an earnest money deposit into her personal checking account 'just until the deal closes.' Under RELRA this conduct is best described as:
Answer: B. Mixing client or transaction funds with personal or business operating funds is commingling, a prohibited act under RELRA. Earnest money must be held in the broker's escrow/trust account, not a personal account, and the prohibition cannot be waived by consent.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
What you need to know
Earnest money and other entrusted funds are deposited into the broker's escrow/trust account and kept separate from the broker's own money; if a dispute arises over those funds, they remain in escrow until the dispute is resolved or proper release authorization is obtained. Because Pennsylvania is not a community-property state, ownership and transfer of marital real estate are governed by common-law and equitable-distribution principles rather than community-property rules.
Pennsylvania Contract & Transaction Specifics: FAQs
Is Pennsylvania Contract & Transaction Specifics on the real estate exam?
Yes. State License Law is a scored domain on the Pennsylvania real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the state license-law 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.
Does Pennsylvania test this differently?
Pennsylvania applies its own license law on top of the national portion. This page covers the Pennsylvania rules specifically, which is what the state section of your exam tests.
