Free Practice Questions for North Carolina Real Estate Commission NCREC-Broker-N Exam

The cost approach to value involves three primary steps: (1) estimate the replacement or reproduction cost of the improvements, (2) subtract accrued depreciation, and (3) add the market value of the land. In this case, the appraiser has already estimated the cost to rebuild the structure. The next steps are to subtract any depreciation from the improvements and then add the land value to derive the final opinion of value. Labor costs are already factored into the reconstruction estimate and are not added again.

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Anexclusive right to selllisting gives one broker the sole authority to market and sell a property. The broker is entitled to a commissionno matter who procures the buyer, even if the seller finds the buyer independently during the listing period commission payment upon sale within the term—matchingoption A. Option B is false (that applies to exclusive agency); C applies to open or exclusive-agency; and D conflicts with the exclusivity provision.

Commingling is the illegal act of mixing a client’s funds—such as earnest money—with the broker’s personal or business funds. North Carolina law strictly prohibits brokers from depositing trust money (like earnest deposits) into the firm’s general operating account. In this case, the broker used the funds to pay rent, which could also constitute conversion (intentional misuse). But since the question specifically addresses the deposit, the correct answer is B – commingling.

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The four economic characteristics necessary for real property to have value are:

Demand: There must be a desire or need for the property.

Utility: The property must serve a purpose or satisfy a need.

Scarcity: There must be a limited supply of similar properties.

Transferability: The ownership rights must be transferable from one party to another.

These four components form the acronym DUST and are foundational in property valuation. The correct answer is A.

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A variance is an exception to a zoning ordinance granted by the local zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship due to unique property conditions. In this case, the lot is too narrow for the minimum width requirement, but the buyer can seek a variance to proceed legally. A nonconforming use applies to existing properties that no longer comply after zoning changes. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

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A group boycott occurs when two or more competitors conspire to exclude another competitor from fair participation in the market—such as refusing to show listings, denying cooperation, or encouraging others not to do business with a certain firm. This violates federal antitrust laws. Price-fixing (choice A) is another violation, but it’s not a group boycott. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

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According to 21 NCAC 58A .0104(a), a written agency agreement in North Carolina must include the broker’s license number and a definite expiration date. These are required by the Commission to ensure regulatory clarity and accountability. A broker protection clause is optional and negotiated between parties. Automatic renewal clauses are prohibited in listing agreements. Therefore, the correct and required component is the broker’s license number.

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