VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE PRACTICE: FAIR
HOUSING, LAWS & ETHICS EXAM PREP
2026–2027 | 200 VERIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES |
COMPLETE VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE
LICENSING STUDY GUIDE
VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE PRACTICE: FAIR HOUSING, LAWS & ETHICS EXAM PREP
2026–2027
200 VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & EXPERT RATIONALE
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 carefully curated practice questions
designed to prepare you for the Virginia Real Estate Commission licensing exam,
with detailed EXPERT RATIONALE for each answer to reinforce your understanding
of fair housing laws, ethical obligations, and Virginia real estate regulations.
• Use this material by completing 25–30 questions daily, reviewing all EXPERT
RATIONALE regardless of whether you answered correctly, and returning to weak
topic areas before your exam date to build mastery and confidence.
QUESTION 1
A real estate agent shows a property only to clients of a certain race after
they express interest in the neighborhood. What fair housing violation has
occurred?
A) Blockbusting
B) Steering
C) Redlining
D) Discriminatory advertising
,E) Panic selling
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Steering
Steering is the illegal practice of directing or discouraging prospective buyers or
renters from certain properties based on protected class characteristics such as
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. By selectively
showing properties only to clients of a certain race, the agent is actively steering
them away from neighborhoods, which is a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act.
QUESTION 2
Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT a protected class?
A) Race
B) Color
C) National origin
D) Sexual orientation
E) Religion
CORRECT ANSWER: D) Sexual orientation
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, protects individuals based on race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Sexual orientation
is not explicitly protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, although some states
and localities may provide additional protections beyond federal law. Virginia has
not included sexual orientation in its fair housing protections under state law.
QUESTION 3
A landlord refuses to rent to a qualified applicant who uses a service dog. This
action violates:
A) State zoning laws
B) The Fair Housing Act's disability protections
,C) Virginia's rent control regulations
D) The Americans with Disabilities Act only
E) Local occupancy codes
CORRECT ANSWER: B) The Fair Housing Act's disability protections
The Fair Housing Act requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations for
individuals with disabilities, including allowing service animals in housing. Refusing
to rent to someone because they have a service dog is discrimination based on
disability status and constitutes a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act's
protections for disabled individuals.
QUESTION 4
Under Virginia law, a real estate licensee must disclose material facts about a
property to:
A) Only the buyer
B) Only the seller
C) All parties in the transaction
D) The broker only
E) The Real Estate Commission only
CORRECT ANSWER: C) All parties in the transaction
Virginia law requires real estate licensees to act in the best interest of their clients
and to make full disclosure of all material facts known to them. This duty extends to
all parties involved in the transaction. A material fact is anything that would affect a
reasonable person's decision to buy, sell, or lease a property.
QUESTION 5
Which federal law requires disclosure of lead-based paint hazards in
residential properties built before 1978?
, A) The Fair Housing Act
B) FIRPTA
C) The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Disclosure Rule
D) The Virginia Property Owners' Association Act
E) The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
CORRECT ANSWER: C) The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Disclosure
Rule
Federal law under the EPA and HUD requires sellers and landlords of pre-1978
residential properties to disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint
hazards. Buyers and renters must be given 10 days to conduct lead inspections.
Failure to comply with this disclosure requirement can result in significant federal
penalties and liability.
QUESTION 6
A Virginia real estate broker accepts earnest money from a buyer. Where
must this money be deposited?
A) The broker's operating account
B) A trust account maintained by the broker
C) The seller's personal bank account
D) The title company's account
E) The broker's savings account
CORRECT ANSWER: B) A trust account maintained by the broker
Virginia law requires brokers to maintain a trust account (escrow account) for
handling client funds, including earnest money deposits. These funds must be kept
separate from the broker's operating funds and cannot be commingled with the
broker's personal or business funds. This protects clients and ensures proper
accounting of their money.
HOUSING, LAWS & ETHICS EXAM PREP
2026–2027 | 200 VERIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES |
COMPLETE VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE
LICENSING STUDY GUIDE
VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE PRACTICE: FAIR HOUSING, LAWS & ETHICS EXAM PREP
2026–2027
200 VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & EXPERT RATIONALE
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 carefully curated practice questions
designed to prepare you for the Virginia Real Estate Commission licensing exam,
with detailed EXPERT RATIONALE for each answer to reinforce your understanding
of fair housing laws, ethical obligations, and Virginia real estate regulations.
• Use this material by completing 25–30 questions daily, reviewing all EXPERT
RATIONALE regardless of whether you answered correctly, and returning to weak
topic areas before your exam date to build mastery and confidence.
QUESTION 1
A real estate agent shows a property only to clients of a certain race after
they express interest in the neighborhood. What fair housing violation has
occurred?
A) Blockbusting
B) Steering
C) Redlining
D) Discriminatory advertising
,E) Panic selling
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Steering
Steering is the illegal practice of directing or discouraging prospective buyers or
renters from certain properties based on protected class characteristics such as
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. By selectively
showing properties only to clients of a certain race, the agent is actively steering
them away from neighborhoods, which is a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act.
QUESTION 2
Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT a protected class?
A) Race
B) Color
C) National origin
D) Sexual orientation
E) Religion
CORRECT ANSWER: D) Sexual orientation
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, protects individuals based on race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Sexual orientation
is not explicitly protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, although some states
and localities may provide additional protections beyond federal law. Virginia has
not included sexual orientation in its fair housing protections under state law.
QUESTION 3
A landlord refuses to rent to a qualified applicant who uses a service dog. This
action violates:
A) State zoning laws
B) The Fair Housing Act's disability protections
,C) Virginia's rent control regulations
D) The Americans with Disabilities Act only
E) Local occupancy codes
CORRECT ANSWER: B) The Fair Housing Act's disability protections
The Fair Housing Act requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations for
individuals with disabilities, including allowing service animals in housing. Refusing
to rent to someone because they have a service dog is discrimination based on
disability status and constitutes a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act's
protections for disabled individuals.
QUESTION 4
Under Virginia law, a real estate licensee must disclose material facts about a
property to:
A) Only the buyer
B) Only the seller
C) All parties in the transaction
D) The broker only
E) The Real Estate Commission only
CORRECT ANSWER: C) All parties in the transaction
Virginia law requires real estate licensees to act in the best interest of their clients
and to make full disclosure of all material facts known to them. This duty extends to
all parties involved in the transaction. A material fact is anything that would affect a
reasonable person's decision to buy, sell, or lease a property.
QUESTION 5
Which federal law requires disclosure of lead-based paint hazards in
residential properties built before 1978?
, A) The Fair Housing Act
B) FIRPTA
C) The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Disclosure Rule
D) The Virginia Property Owners' Association Act
E) The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
CORRECT ANSWER: C) The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Disclosure
Rule
Federal law under the EPA and HUD requires sellers and landlords of pre-1978
residential properties to disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint
hazards. Buyers and renters must be given 10 days to conduct lead inspections.
Failure to comply with this disclosure requirement can result in significant federal
penalties and liability.
QUESTION 6
A Virginia real estate broker accepts earnest money from a buyer. Where
must this money be deposited?
A) The broker's operating account
B) A trust account maintained by the broker
C) The seller's personal bank account
D) The title company's account
E) The broker's savings account
CORRECT ANSWER: B) A trust account maintained by the broker
Virginia law requires brokers to maintain a trust account (escrow account) for
handling client funds, including earnest money deposits. These funds must be kept
separate from the broker's operating funds and cannot be commingled with the
broker's personal or business funds. This protects clients and ensures proper
accounting of their money.
